“You’re forty. What’s your excuse?”
My father’s jaw clenches, and I know I shouldn’t challenge him now. But he knows I’ll fight. Evan is his son—he should fight for him too. Just because my mother couldn’t handle it, doesn’t mean that I can’t. I’m stronger than her. I love Evan more. And I’ll never leave him. I’ll die first.
“It’s too hard,” my father says. He almost looks guilty.
“He’s ours,” I whisper forcefully. “And he’s not going anywhere.” I stomp toward the kitchen.
“It’s not really up to you,” he says under his breath.
I fight back my tears and set the grocery bags on the counter. I look out the window into the backyard. The weeds have overgrown the lawn, and the patio is covered in moss and dirt. There are no toys. No swing set. I hate this life.
But I love Evan and I will never give him up. Not without a fight.
CHAPTER SIX
Nearly the entire classis absent on Friday. Only ones here are me, Gris, the new girl, and Travis. Retha had to babysit her baby brother so her mom could go to the DMV. She told me to send her regards to Mr. Jimenez.
It’s quiet—worksheet day since a lecture would be a waste of air on Mr. Jimenez’s part. I steal glances at the door, hoping Cameron will walk in. But he never does. Travis sleeps his way through the morning, but still manages to turn something in at the end of the day. Neither of us mentions the incident at the food court again. I don’t like the reminder of what helpless feels like.
“Retha told me that you’re going to her house?” Travis asks after class, holding open the door to the parking lot for me.
“Yeah, I guess,” I say. “Evan’s with my aunt through the weekend. Don’t really want to be home.”
“I get it,” Travis says, running his hand through his long hair. He looks tired. Maybe even miserable.
“You’re coming too, right?” I ask.
“Naw,” he says. “Not tonight.”
I climb in the passenger side of his car and look over at him. “Everything okay?”
He gives me a small smile, one that tells me to mind my own business. I respect his privacy, and I figure it’s between him and Retha.
Travis stops at Retha’s house, and she comes outside like she’s been waiting for us. Travis waves at her, but Retha purses her lips and sets her hands on her hips.
“Yikes,” I say under my breath.
“I’ll catch you later,” Travis says, switching the car into gear. I scrunch up my nose, feeling bad for him even though I don’t know what their fight is about. I say good-bye and climb out of the car.
I meet Retha on her porch, and we watch Travis drive away. When he’s gone, I look sideways at her.
“I see things are going well.”
“Oh, girl.” She shakes her head, and then yanks open the screen door. “Don’t even get me started on him.” She goes inside the house, but I take another look at the empty street, feeling torn, like a kid whose parents are fighting in front of her.
“Savvy,” Retha’s mother calls in her thick accent as I close the door.
“Hi,” I say, walking into the kitchen to give her a quick hug. I tower over her small frame, and we both look at the table when Retha’s little brother wails from his high chair. “Hi to you, too, Raymond,” I say, wiggling my fingers at him. He smiles and drools all over himself.
I love coming here. Retha’s house smells like cooking oil and spices. Her dad is always working, but when he’s here, his booming laugh is just like Retha’s.
This entire place is loud and messy. It’s like a home.
“So how’s Evan?” Retha’s mother asks, stirring a pot of soup on the stove. “You haven’t brought him in a while.”
“He’s with our aunt this weekend. I’ll bring him over next week.”
“You got enough to eat there?” she asks, tapping the wooden spoon on the side of the pot with a clank. “I’m going by the food bank next week.”
