“Have too.”
“Call. Them.”
“Fine.” I search around my bed for my phone. It must still be in my purse. When she sees I don’t have my phone handy, she passes me hers and steps out of the room. “I’ve got your mom’s number on there.”
Not surprising. Growing up, Carley was at my house as much as I was at hers. We were always together. Pressing my mom’s name, it rings several times. “What’s wrong with Emma?” Are the first words out of my mom’s mouth.
“It’s me. Emma. I’m fine.”
“Oh, thank God.” I can hear the relief in her voice, and it makes me smile. I mean, she loves me, that I know.
“How are you?”
“Good.” But she sounds tired even over the phone. “We worked a double today.”
A double means a double shift. Two eight-hour shifts in one day. That’s a lot. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“No worries, my sweet. How’s school?”
“Good. I’m doing well. I’m going to graduate on time.”
“Wonderful.” Her voice sounds much cheerier now. “I hope you find a job close by.”
“I’m planning on it.” Most of the places in Illinois that would hire someone like me are in Chicago, which is an easy drive home. I’m quiet for a bit too long.
Mom must sense the change because she speaks first. “Is she with you?”
Wait a second. Mom didn’t even know where she went? “She is.”
“And you don’t want her there.” This time, it’s not a question.
I shake my head, knowing my mom can’t see it. I’m forced to say, “She’s too much.”
Mom chuckles. “Oh, I know.”
“What is she doing here? What happened?”
“She was fired again.”
Shocker.
“They accused her of…” Mom hesitates.
Oh, shit.
“Of what? What’d they accuse her of?” Her most recent job was at a truck stop slash convenience store just outside of town on the interstate, so I can imagine her doing all sorts of things there. Like…
“Selling….”
“Selling?” Oh no. Has my sister really gone there? “Drugs? Was she selling drugs?” She’s always been a petty thief. Never anything that serious. I mean, Amber Perkins is no criminal mastermind.
“I’m not sure.” Mom’s not being honest with me. I can tell by her voice. I’ve heard it many times before when she’s doing her best not to think about the illegal stuff my sister has done.
“Mom.”
“I don’t know, honey. The police wouldn’t say much.” Mom sighs and it makes me so sad. “I honestly don’t know, sweetheart. Our lawyer was supposed to talk to the police today. I’m hoping we can just pay a fine and—”
“Mom.” I interrupt her. “If she was doing something like that, selling drugs…” Then, a lightbulb flickers on above my head like one of those in cartoons. If she’s selling drugs, then I know why she’s here. Why she came to a college campus. To a place that has hundreds, maybe thousands of potential customers. “I’ve gotta go, Mom. I’ll call you back soon.”
