I waited until my face felt clean before reaching for the soap I knew was on the shower stall above my head.
“Here,” I heard Nettie say. “Hold out your hand.”
I did and felt the palm of my hand fill up with industrial soap.
After washing my face and rinsing, only then did I hear Gail say, “Oh, my. I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t realize.”
Holly.
I wasn’t listening to what she was saying.
I only had eyes for the woman peering over the back side of the stall as she looked down at me.
“Is that what I think it is in your hair?”
I grimaced.
“I’d offer to help, but I think I’ll give this one a pass.”
“I told you not to go in there,” Young called from the other side of the room. “It smells awful. God, shut the door if you’re going to stay in there with them.”
Her smile was everything.
The last hour had been horrific.
But, seeing her smiling, obviously not mad when my mother’s intentions had been clear, was enough to have me breathing easier.
“I would’ve answered that call earlier but…”
“I’m glad you didn’t. I don’t want you getting that new cell phone covered in…poo.”
I just shook my head and held out my hand. “Hit me again.”
She did.
“Your rubber boots are filling up with soap, poo bits and water.”
“That’s a later problem,” I said.
An entire hour later, Holly and I were clean and none the worse for wear.
My mother was once again in handcuffs.
Someone had called to get her trespassed.
And the ol’ broad had left and come back.
Again.
Black had been a whole lot less understanding this time.
“I just wanted to talk to you for a moment!” Gail sounded ravaged. “Just five minutes, Boone. Just five, and I’ll never bother you again.”
Nettie jerked her head toward the door. “We already missed the appointment, babe. You might as well hear her out.”
The appointment for us to get married.
Fuck!
