I sigh, irritated, then shower and put on underwear and shorts.
Knock, knock.
Tommy’s voice carries through the bedroom door. “Time for bed.”
That means he wants a hug before laying down.
I open the door and extend my arms. He gives me a strong hug, then walks happily to his room wearing pinstripe pajamas.
I lie in bed and stare at the wall.
Another day done.
I pass out fast, exhausted.
Early in the morning, my phone vibrates on the nightstand, waking me from a dead sleep.
“Hello?” I answer, groggy.
“Jack,” says Noel. “I got arrested.”
I sit up fast, ripping off the sheets. “Arrested? For what?”
“I’ll tell you later. Can you bail me out?” he says.
I drag my palm down my face. “I’ll be there at lunch.” I hang up the phone and call Teresa, and elderly woman who helps me with the center in emergencies. She agrees to watch over the crew midday so I can go to the courthouse.
Shit.
Still exhausted, I roll out of bed and start a new day.
Cicadas buzz in the humid air as I approach the courthouse. Inside, I pay a thousand bucks to get my dumbshit brother out.
“What did you do?” I ask when we get into the car. “The paperwork listed trespassing and criminal mischief.”
He slumps in the passenger seat. He won’t look at me.
“After seeing the movie, I went to Morgan’s house.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. See if she wanted to hang out.”
I clench my jaw and gesture for him to keep talking.
“Well, the security guard wouldn’t let me past the gates. I told him I knew her, but he didn’t believe me. I walked around to the backside of the property and jumped the fence.”
“You jumped the fence?” I repeat in disbelief.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t as bad as it sounds. I knew once I talked to her, she wouldn’t be mad about it. That’s why I looked into the windows. I was trying to find her, but then the cops showed up. Her dad wanted them to press charges.”
I start the car and drive out of the parking lot without a word. I have no idea how to fix this. What was he thinking? This is crazy. He’s mental for this woman.
Later that night, I look up the charges and possible fines or jail time.
My stomach sinks.
The website says he’s facing up to ten years in prison. I know that’s unlikely for a first offense, but even a week in prison is too much for Noel. They’ll beat him up in there. A juvenile detention center would be just as bad. He isn’t the type to handle stress well.
