Safe and Sound(50)
“Probably best.” Sebastian looked at her. “So. Jack, huh?”
Her face burned. “Yes,” she said, back straight, eyes trained on Sebastian.
Sebastian raised his hands and backed away. “Hey. Whatever. I don’t know him. I’ll have to trust your judgment.”
Warmth trickled through her veins. Lola grabbed Sebastian and spontaneously kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
The door opened. “Hi, guys.” Blair smiled at Sebastian and turned to Lola. There was a smudge of flour on her cheek and white handprints on her yellow top. “How was your day?”
It was a simple question. There was nothing significant about it; nothing to cause such a response in Lola. Her eyes watered and her throat tightened.
“That bad?” Blair sighed and reached for her, rubbing her back.
“No. It…was…fine,” Lola said, trying to steady her voice.
“Then why are you crying?”
Lola laughed and cried at the same time. “I don’t know. Because no one’s asked me about my day in a very long time.”
“Well, expect it now. Lola, there is someone here to talk to you.” Blair gave her a look. Lola’s heartbeat picked up. “It’s a social worker.” And her stomach plummeted. Not her mother. Not Jack.
“Oh. Okay.”
Sebastian touched her arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You’ll be fine,” he added as he took in her features.
She didn’t feel like she was going to be fine. Lola felt like she was going to throw up. Or pass out. Or maybe both.
Lola took a deep breath, held the hand Blair offered, and followed her inside.
***
By the end of the visit, Lola was exhausted. She’d had to retell the events that had landed Bob in jail. Each word had been like a stab of pain to her chest. The social worker had been nice and apparently Lola would be seeing Alice Johnson, the social worker, for weekly visits for some time.
An attorney had been appointed to her case as well. Lola wasn’t exactly sure what his role was; he’d said something about looking out for her best interests. She was confused because she’d thought that was what the social worker was doing too.
Then there was the Child Protective Service worker who was performing the background checks on Blair to make sure she was fit to be Lola’s guardian and Lola was safe in her care.
It had been a huge relief to learn she wouldn’t have to testify in court. Lola never wanted to see Bob Holden’s ugly face again.
But her mother…it hurt so bad Lola couldn’t breathe when she thought of her.
Lola blinked her eyes as tears formed and tried to focus on her homework.
“You okay?”
She looked up at Rachel’s concerned face. “Of course. I just…this question is hard.”
“So hard it brings tears to your eyes?” Rachel leaned across the bed and peered at the Home Economics book. “There aren’t any questions, Lola. It’s a picture.”
Lola snapped the book shut and tossed it to the side. She wanted to talk to someone, but didn’t feel comfortable unloading all her doubts and fears on Rachel. It didn’t feel right.
It was weird trying to pick up exactly where she and Rachel had left off. Lola wasn’t that girl anymore. It was like trying to wear a shirt that no longer fit. Had she completely outgrown her old life and friends?
“Do you want to talk? Maybe you would feel better.”
She did want to talk, but not to Rachel, and she felt bad about it. Lola shook her head.
“Okay. I can’t force you to talk if you don’t want to. But you would feel better if you did.”
Rachel waited, but when Lola didn’t answer, she said, “Since you don’t feel like talking, I’m going to because I do feel like talking.”
Lola looked up, curious.
Her friend tapped a pencil against a textbook. “So…there’s this guy I like. And I think he likes me. But I’m not sure how someone else fits into the whole thing.” She glanced at Lola. A smile stretched Lola’s lips.
“Should I be concerned that you’re smiling?”
“Of course not! This is a smile of happiness, Rachel.”
“Oh. ‘Cause it looks kind of demonic.”
“Probably because I’m so out of practice.”
They laughed. Maybe it wasn’t so hard to pick up where they’d left off. Lola just had to open up and let her friends back in.
“Is it Sebastian?”
Rachel’s blush gave it away.
“I would love it if you two dated.”
“Really? Thanks.”
“Oh yeah. You’re much better than Roxanne.”
She grimaced. “I can just imagine how she’ll take the news. Probably send me hate mail or something.”