Page 88 of From Nowhere

“Does Bandit miss me?” Lola asks while Maren brushes her hair.

Maren winks at me. “Yes. He misses you already.”

“I knew it,” Lola says. “Dad, are you coming to watch my track-and-field day?”

“I am.”

“Are Nana and Pa coming?”

“I’m not sure. Pa has a doctor’s appointment, but I don’t remember what time he said.”

“Are you taking me to dinner, then?”

I laugh. “Lola, you sure know how to work me.”

“I think dinner is the least your dad can do, since it’s your big day,” Maren says.

I toss her a fake scowl.

“Tacos,” Lola says. “And dessert.”

“Girl after my own heart,” Maren adds.

“I’m outnumbered,” I say. “Lola, do you want a smoothie or a breakfast sandwich?”

“Smoothie.”

I nod, heading toward the stairs. “I’ll go make it.”

After I pull the fruit out of the freezer and add milk and yogurt to the blender, Tia brings her dirty dishes into the kitchen. I pray that she loads them into the dishwasher and ignores me.

No such luck.

“You’re setting that little girl up for heartbreak again,” Tia says after clearing her throat.

“I disagree.”

“I don’t know what you and that woman are doing, but Lola gets excited every time she sees her. What happens if the woman dies in a plane crash?”

I do my best to ignore her.

I add fruit and hemp seeds.

I blend.

I pour it into a glass.

But when I turn, Tia’s resting her backside against the counter, arms crossed over her robe-covered body.

I sigh. “That woman’s name is Maren. And you’re banking on her dying. Yet you’re so vocal about me overprotecting Lola when it comes to the car issue. You can’t have it both ways. Pick a side. Otherwise, you just sound like a bitter old woman whose only goal in life is to see me suffer.”

Tia parts her lips, jaw hanging open.

Of course, I feel instant regret. Maren is a better person than I am—times infinity. My ego can’t see past Tia’s accusations to recognize the mother who’s still grieving the loss of her daughter.

I’m filled with nothing but frustration and flippant remarks when Tia voices her opinions about my life.

Maybe I need my own therapist.

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