I KNOCKED THREE times on the wood door, then stepped back and waited, my eyes surveying the street.
“Hello?”
I looked forward to see a pretty woman about my age standing in the doorway with a kitchen towel in her hands.
“Hi, I’m Delilah Horton, PI, and I’m looking for Misty.”
The woman nodded once, then stepped aside and said, “Come on in. We were expecting the cops, but I guess you’re close enough.”
“The cops?” I asked, walking past the woman and into her tidy living room.
“Yeah, Misty’s mom has made it no secret that she does not agree with her daughter dating our son, we figured it was only a matter of time before she did something crazy. God forbid she stand by her daughter and support her decisions.”
Why did it feel like everyone knew what was going on but me? And, why did it seem like being on the mother’s side was the wrong side of whatever this situation was?
“I was under the impression that Misty was missing. That perhaps she’d run away, or been taken against her will. Her mother hired me to find her, make sure she’s okay, and bring her home.”
“Well, you can talk to her, and see for yourself that she’s okay, but Misty isn’t going anywhere. I’ll go get her.”
I waited, my curiosity stronger than ever, as the woman went down the hallway to get Misty. A few moments later, she came back with a young woman, and a young man, whom I assumed were Misty and Adrian.
“Misty?” I asked, taking a step forward and offering my hand.
“Yeah,” she replied softly, taking my hand briefly before letting it go.
“Why don’t you have a seat? Can I get you anything? Coffee, water?”
“No, thank you,” I said.
“We’re fine, Mom,” Adrian said, and we all sat down.
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence, then Misty cleared her throat and said, “You can tell my mom that I’m fine. And, I only took a couple days off to get settled, but I will be going back to school tomorrow, so she doesn’t have to worry.”
“I will,” I replied, then asked. “Is there a reason why your mom would have thought you were missing?”
Misty sighed.
“Look, I’m sorry that my mom is lonely, and that I’m all she has, but I can’t live with her anymore. She doesn’t approve of Adrian because he’s black. I’ve been grounded for months, even though I haven’t done anything, just so she could keep us apart outside of school. She’s talked about sending me away, but then she’d be alone, so she couldn’t do it.”
Misty took a deep breath, then picked up a piece of paper and handed it to me.
“The day I turned eighteen, I left home and Adrian and I got married, here’s the certificate. We’re both going to stay in school and graduate and we’ll be here with his parents until we can save up enough to move out on our own. You can tell my mom I’m safe and I’m happy, and if she can accept Adrian as my husband, we can get together, but if not, I don’t want to see her.”
Misty’s eyes filled with tears, and Adrian put his arm around her. His eye swung to me.
“Is that all you need?” he asked.
I nodded and rose.
“Is this copy for your mother?” I asked.
They both said, “Yes,” and I moved to let myself out.
I left quietly, contemplating everything I’d just learned. I couldn’t help but think of Lena, and imagine how awful it would be if we ever got to the point where she didn’t want me in her life anymore.
It would be terrible.
Still, it was apparent that Misty’s mother was in the wrong here, not Misty, although the thought of Lena getting married at eighteen sent me into panic mode.
Can Misty’s mother really let the color of a man’s skin affect her so much that she’s willing to lose what appears to be the only family she has left. Is she that ignorant? Obtuse? What year is it anyway? Do people still think and feel this way?
It was almost more than I could fathom, and I found myself not wanting to talk to the woman again, although I knew I needed to deliver the document for Misty and tell her the case was closed.
With a bad taste in my mouth, I drove back to Main Street, intent on Amy May’s bakery and another cupcake.
Yeah, I realize that would be three cupcakes and it isn’t even dinner time yet, but who’s counting?
I needed to see my friend and make sure she was okay, and I needed a little boost before going to see Misty’s mother.
When I parked, I shot a text to her number asking for her address, then sent another one to Cade, asking what he was going to pick up for dinner. Finally, I went to the group chat I shared with Bea, Carmen, and Amy May, and said we needed to plan a night out.
As I was walking, Misty’s mom replied that she would meet me at Applebee’s in thirty minutes. Guess she didn’t want me coming to her house . . . whatever.
Cade texted back, Kabobs.
But, the group chat stayed silent.
I needed to talk to Amy May and fix things with my girls.