She said she’d back down on her declaration and there itwas.
“But I can’t help you,” Georgie went on.
Thank fuck.
She was standing strong.
Georgie kept going.
“Because if I give you money…and three months’ rent,Carolyn, just saying, that will putmein a bind…still, I can’t knowyou won’t buy drugs with it.”
“I need a roof over my head more than cocaine.”
“You say that now—”
“It’s not the problem you think it is.”
“How am I supposed to trust that?”
“Because I’m telling you.”
“Can you put yourself in my shoes with me having yourhistory, and I was saying these things to you, would you risk your nest eggthat isn’t much, but it’s at least a little peace of mind, on me?”
“What am I supposed to do?”Carolyn asked.“I can’t live onthe streets.”
“Move in with Mother.”
“She said no go.”
“Move in with Dad.”
“No way,” Carolyn spat.
Since he knew where this was heading, Dutch had tointervene.
And he did it to say a warning, “Georgie.”
Georgie was silent.
Carolyn looked between them, back and forth and again andagain, fast.
Then her hands flew out and she cried, “You’ve known eachother…what?Days?And you’re picking him over me?”
“You can’t live with me.I have a roommate,” Georgie pointedout.
“She’s not there.She’s in Somalia or whatever.”
“She’s paying for that space and not for you to stay there.”
“I cannot believe my ears,” Carolyn spat, her tone and thetwist in her face saying she was losing it.
And that shit was not happening again.
“Chill the fuck out,” Dutch bit.
Carolyn glared at him then sucked in a breath.
When she got a lock on it, she said, “I’ll sell some stuff.I have good stuff.Consignment won’t take long.I’ll take extra shifts.They’realways asking for extra shifts and I get time and a half.It’ll be a month.Most, two.”
