“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done with you.”
“But I am with you. Why don’t we talk through our lawyers instead of making a spectacle on the street?”
Of course it wasn’t that easy and she carried on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Just give me the little brat. Why would you want her anyway?”
Now that made my hackles rise and fight back. “Why do I want her? Because I love her. She is my family. And I’d fight until I have nothing left to keep you away from her. You are poison. I don’t know where you got the money to afford a lawyer from but I suspect it’s something illegal. Now if you don’t want me talking to the cops, you better back off.”
She cackled and leaned in closer, her stale whiskey breath nearly knocking me on my ass. “I’m as clean as can be and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I have a new man and he wants a kid. So I’m giving him one. The money will make sure we’re set up.” She punctuated her statement with a push to my shoulder. Always mature, that was mother dearest. And her interest made so much more sense now. Not only would she get access to a lot of money, she’d also get a child out of the deal. Not one she wanted but apparently her latest pimp did. That alone raised about a million red flags. She didn’t exactly go out with holding-a-steady-job and live-behind-a-white-picket-fence guys.
I shuffled back to get out of the way of her doing any damage, like punching me. Wouldn’t be the first time and I knew when she was too far gone to talk to. My retreat was stilted by a warm body.
“Shit, sorry. You okay?” A familiar voice asked.
I turned around and, to my immense relief, saw I had run into Landon. “Hey, Landon,” I said and tried to put on a happy face. Whatever that was because I was definitely not feeling it at the moment.
“Emmerson. What are you doing here?” He nodded toward the office I had just walked out of. “Did you slap that committee chick and get in trouble for it?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that. And no, I didn’t slap her. I had some other stuff to take care of.”
“Who the fuck is this?” Anna interrupted.
“Let’s go,” I mumbled and pulled on Landon’s arm. He was the perfect excuse to make a quick getaway.
“We are not done here,” Anna yelled after us but luckily made no move to stop me.
Landon didn’t argue when I pulled him along.
“How about I take you out for lunch? My treat.”
“Sounds good. Where are you taking me?”
We started walking, his long legs making it hard for me to keep up. “McDonalds,” he said.
I shot him a look but who was I to argue with a free meal? “Fine. McDonalds it is.”
Landon started laughing. “I was kidding. You really think I’d do that?”
I didn’t respond, but let him continue to drag me along.
“Come on, give me some credit.”
“So where are we going?”
“Dolly’s.”
I loved Dolly’s. All their food was fried. The healthiest item on the menu was their milkshakes. Just what I needed.
“Can’t go wrong with Dolly’s. So what are you doing in Butler?”
“Had to deliver some parts. I messaged to ask if you wanted to do lunch. You either ignored me or didn’t check your phone.”
I pulled my phone out and saw three messages and two missed calls. “I guess that answers that,” Landon said and nudged me towards the entrance of the diner.
He held the door open, and I followed him inside. “Sit anywhere guys, I’ll be right with you,” Rita, one of the waitresses, called out.
Landon slid into a booth on one side, and I took the seat opposite. “Mind if I check this quickly?” I asked and waved my phone over my head.
