Page 32 of Luke

Six

Liz forced herself not to look back at Luke as she went up the stairs and entered the two-bedroom apartment on the top floor that she shared with Kaitlyn. Their bedrooms were separated by a living room and kitchenette, which they rarely occupied at the same time. In fact, Kaitlyn was usually in her room with the door closed, her headphones on, and either her phone or computer holding all of her attention.

She should probably force Kaitlyn to use the computer in a more public space, but she had so many battles to fight on so many fronts that she just hadn't gotten to that one yet. She knocked on Kaitlyn's door and then pushed it open when she didn't get an answer. Kaitlyn rarely answered since she usually couldn't hear the knock, or at least she pretended not to.

She walked into the room, seeing her niece sitting back against the pillows on her bed, looking at something on her computer with her headphones on, as she'd predicted.

"I want to talk to you," she said loudly, taking a seat on the bed.

"What?" Kaitlyn asked aggressively, pulling her headphones off. She gave Liz a burning glare, as if she'd decided that offense was the best defense.

"You lied to me, Kaitlyn. You went to the river with two boys and a bottle of alcohol."

"I knew he'd tell you."

"Of course Luke told me. What you did was reckless and possibly dangerous."

"It was no big deal. They're just kids."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. We were talking."

"And drinking."

"I wasn't drinking."

"But they were."

Kaitlyn shrugged. "Everyone drinks. It's not a big deal."

"At thirteen? I don't think that's true."

"You never believe me, so why should now be different?"

Lizzie frowned at the accusation. "What do you mean I never believe you? What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"Dammit, Kaitlyn. You have to talk to me."

"We are talking. You just don't like what you're hearing," Kaitlyn retorted.

She let out a sigh. "I want you to be safe, honey. You've been through the worst kind of pain, and I know you're still hurting. I want to help." There was no response from her niece. Liz stared at the hard wall of defiance in Kaitlyn's eyes and didn't even see one tiny crack she could wiggle through, but she still had to try. "It's up to me to protect you now. That's what your mom would want. But I need your help; I can't do it alone."

Kaitlyn shook her head, her lips tightening with scorn. "You have no idea what my mom would want. You saw us like three times in the last six years. Mom used to cry because you wouldn't come visit for Christmas. She said you were too busy for us."

"That's…" She floundered, searching for the right words. It was true that she'd missed the last few Christmas holidays, but she'd kept in touch with Kelly. "We talked on the phone, Kaitlyn. Your mom and I kept in touch even when we weren't together."

"Yeah, and then she'd hang up the phone and cry. She said you loved music more than us."

She was stunned and hurt by Kaitlyn's words. Were they true? Had Kelly cried because they didn't see each other that often? Had she put her own needs ahead of her sister? Had she loved music more than her family?

"Are we done now?" Kaitlyn demanded.

Since she was still somewhat speechless, she got up from the bed and walked to the door. Then she paused. Was her niece playing her? Had she drummed up a story to turn the conversation away from her bad behavior?

Unfortunately, there was no way to be sure.

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