“I’m Kaylee’s guardian.” My voice broke.
“On paper, ma’am?” he asked me.
Don’t cry, Mazzie. Keep it together.
I shook my head. “No.”
“What about your father? Is he in the picture?” Officer Morrical asked.
“No father,” I said, staring at my mother. “Unless you know where Kaylee’s dad is?” Or who he is? I didn’t want to add that question. As much as my mom was a disaster and as furious as I was with her, I didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire.
“I need to step out for a few minutes while we wait for the results of the blood test,” Officer Morrical said. “I’ll return shortly.”
“Kaylee, wait here. I need to talk to the cop,” I said, following Officer Morrical into the hall. “Sir, you’re going to arrest my mom, aren’t you?”
His kind blue eyes were a clear sign that he didn’t want to take my mother to jail. “Ms. Meyers, my hands are tied.”
I hated that I had no control over this situation. “Do you have to call CPS? I can’t lose my sister.”
He scratched his jaw. “It will take a few days for me to file my report, which will highlight that Kaylee has family to stay with. Then several more days before CPS gets wind. Then someone will be assigned to Kaylee’s case, and in turn, they’ll talk to me before they do their investigation. In the meantime, do whatever you can to show Kaylee is well taken care of.”
A little of my panicked state waned. “I have a family friend who is willing to take Kaylee in, and I’ll be with my sister. My friend’s parents are well-known in Lakemont. Will that help?”
“I can’t say for sure, Ms. Meyers. But that might help. CPS wants to see a stable home environment. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He smiled weakly then strode toward the nurses’ station.
I stomped into my mom’s room. “Kaylee, have you eaten? I want to talk to Mom for a minute.” I pulled out five ones from my wallet. “I saw a vending machine down the hall.”
She took the bills, hesitating to leave.
“It’s okay.” I smoothed my hands down her arms then pulled down her favorite Taylor Swift T-shirt. “We’re fine. You’re not going anywhere. I promise.”
That was a tall order, but I needed her to believe me. She was too young to worry about foster care, drunk moms, and jail time.
She hugged me. “I know you won’t let them take me.”
I prayed I could stop CPS or the train wreck that was about to happen.
I took a deep breath, tempering my anger as I padded over to the bed. “What the hell, Mom? You know that you’re in a world of trouble.” I kept my voice as low as possible.
Her bloodshot eyes filled with tears as she adjusted her striped T-shirt. “I promise, Mazzie, I hardly drank anything last night. I hit that car because Kaylee and I were arguing. I looked away for a split second.”
I rubbed my neck as guilt rode me hard. “How much did you drink? You failed the breathalyzer.”
She cried. “I’m sorry.”
“What about my car?” I needed transportation.
“The cops were having it towed somewhere. I think you can still use it.”
They’d probably taken it to the impound lot, which meant I had to pay to get my car back.
She grabbed my arm. “Mazzie, I can’t go to jail.”
I had so many comebacks on the tip of my tongue, like she should’ve thought about that before she downed a bottle of wine. But no matter how many times I’d scolded her for drinking too much, it had fallen on deaf ears.
“Mom, I have no control here. But before Kaylee comes back, what was the big family discussion you needed to have?” I had a feeling she drowned herself in alcohol because of whatever reason she had for calling a family meeting. My first thought was she was dying or had the big C word. Fear as bright as a neon sign flashed before me. My mom had a long list of flaws that made me want to pull my hair out, but I didn’t want her to die.
She shuddered. “I ran into Kaylee’s dad at the drugstore. He was in town to see his ailing father.”
