“My heart hurts for her being away from this little beauty.”
Obviously I hate she’s not with our daughter, but I’m more concerned with how she’s going to survive in county. It’s no place for someone like Amelia.
“Can you watch her for a while, I won’t be long.”
“Sure.”
Grabbing my keys, I look both ways up the streets on instinct, and jump in my car. Driving downtown, I park up and walk the rest of the way to Haynes & Haynes Publishing House. I plot up across the street and light a cigarette. I’ve driven by here so many times, but I’ve never taken any interest. It’s just another grand building with people coming and going, all different to me. I try to picture myself walking in with the morning rush, taking the elevator to whatever floor I’d be working on and then spending eight hours at a desk. I cannot see it. But then I picture Amelia showing up with Elsa at the end of the day to meet me, we’d go for dinner before going home, and shit doesn’t seem so bad.
To be with Amelia, this would have to be my life. I was such an asshole when she was pregnant, I knew she was around, I knew I could show up when I wanted and get my fix of her, even if it left her hurt. Now she’s not around and I can’t deal.
30
Amelia
Hiding behind my eyelids, I can almost believe I’m anywhere but here. Occasionally I can fall into a fantasy so deep I forget everything.
“You got a man out there?”
Opening my eyes, CeCe leans over her top bunk, looking down at me. Darius is the closest I’ve had tohaving a man,but I mutter, “No. You?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure he’s keeping my sister’s bed warm while I’m in here.”
What a thing to come out with. Her laughter gets the attention of the other women in the pod.
“You should see the disgust on your face. You not used to life throwing you whores and deadbeat men?”
“Not exactly.”
“You look like money. Where you from?”
I can’t tell her I’m from Gold Mile or give a false answer telling her I’m from Darius’s part. Who knows who’s affiliated with who in here and I’m not looking for any kind of trouble.
“Just outside the city, you heard of Rosedale?”
“Heard of it, never been there, though. What you in for? And don’t be telling me it’s all a mistake, you’re innocent, yadda yadda yadda.”
Snorting, I sort of like her even though Iaminnocent.
“Drugs.”
Her laughter becomes louder. “No shit.” She jumps down from her cot and sits on the floor beside me. Rolling onto my side, I tuck my hands under the side of my face, sensing no danger from her.
“I’ve been here seven months this Friday. If there’s anything you wanna know, or just talk to pass the time, I’m here. Unlike some of the crazy in here, I promise you I’m not like that.”
I’ll have to take her at her word… for now.
“I’m not crazy either.”
“I see that. Once you’ve been around long enough, you get to learn who’s outta their mind or who isn’t real quick. It’s all in the eyes.”
Again, I’ll take her at her word.
“If you don’t mind telling me, what are you in for?”
“One of my clients started playing me up. He thought he could put hands on me so I showed him how wrong he was, I slugged him so hard over the head he crumpled like paper. They got me on murder but I’m pleading self-defence.”
One thing I’ve learned in my short time here, the crimes these women are in for are things I never could even imagine.
