Moments later, I’m back on the sidewalk, trying to figure out what I want to do now. I decide to just start walking and hope that I figure it out along the way.
Eventually, I come to Andre’s and decide to duck inside to see what my parents are up to. The moment I do, I regret it. People are everywhere, moving furniture and cleaning things.
It takes a moment, but Mom sees me. “Joanna? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work? Oh, God. Did you get fired?”
“No, Mom. I didn’t get fired. It’s slow at the shop, so Jack called me out.”
“Oh, that’s no good. Well, I would see if you wanted to work here, but we are having new floors put in, so the place is actually closed for the day.”
“It’s okay. Where’s Dad?”
“He had to go to the hardware store to grab a few things. I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
She walks away from me to go redirect two guys who are moving one of the tables. She’s busy, so I guess this conversation is over.
When I leave Andre’s, I decide to head back to Beau’s. How is it that I am the only person who isn’t busy right now?
Maybe because it’s 10 AM on a Tuesday. Everyone has lives and jobs.
With every step I take, I feel like the metaphorical walls are closing in around me. I am twenty-eight years old with no real job, no money, no place to live that is actually mine. I’ve spent all my money on stupid decisions and have a car that barely even runs anymore.
Usually, I am able to find the good in situations like this, but right now, I feel the tears pricking the back of my eyes, and all I want to do is get back to Beau’s, so that no one sees me have a meltdown in the middle of the street.
I walk as fast as I can without actually running until I am through the front door.
When I’m safely inside, I kick off my shoes followed by everything else until I am in nothing but my t-shirt. As though I’m a zombie, I aimlessly walk into the bedroom and climb under the covers.
I’m not even sure at what point my tears start to fall. I’m so out of it that I’m not even aware it’s happening until Mia climbs up next to me and licks one off my cheek. As I lie here, every bad decision I’ve ever made plays through my mind in a continuous loop.
It’s going to be a long fucking day.
Chapter thirty-nine
Helpless
Beau
“Jo?” I call as I walk through the front door. “Jo, are you here?”
I tried texting her earlier but haven’t heard a word. I was so worried about her that I ended up leaving work a couple hours early. Jo going radio silent is never a good thing.
As I walk further inside, it occurs to me that someone else is missing from this equation. Mia. Did Jo and Mia run off together?
Wouldn’t that be just my luck?
A few steps in, I see her shoes, jeans, and hoodie in a heap on the floor. Okay, well, that tells me sheshouldbe here. Anxiety washes over me as I wonder if something happened to her.
With a bit more pep in my step, I start to search the house. She’s not in the living room, kitchen, or den. I walk to the bedroom. I see it’s pretty dark, but a movement from Mia catches my eye. Walking further inside, I see Jo curled up under the blankets, fast asleep.
Mia is laying with her head resting on Jo’s back.
“Are you taking care of her?” I whisper to the dog who doesn’t move in the slightest.
I go to the other side of the bed and kick off my shoes before climbing in.
“Jo?” I whisper. When she doesn’t move, I try again but a little louder this time.
That gets her to jump up. It takes her a second to register that it’s me. “Beau? What time is it?”
