Page 105 of The Truth of Our Secrets

Her face brightens. “Okay. I want to be better for you and your sister. Miss Madyson told me how you work so hard for me and I can help you not be homeless.”

I frown at Madyson, but she shrugs unapologetically.

It takes a half an hour to configure the boxes in the trunk and backseat. Madyson and I have to share the front seat, but that’s not a hardship.

Once Jayce gets on the road, I clear my throat. “I owe you both an apology.” When they protest, I cut them off. “You were concerned about protecting us from Peter, and I didn’t take it seriously. I thought you were being paranoid and overreacting.”

Madyson sits sideways in my lap, plastered against the window, biting her lip, and Jayce keeps his eyes on the road.

“You obviously couldn’t have predicted this, but I should’ve taken your concerns seriously. Instead, I was angry about your lies. Not everything is as black and white as I pretend. Not every lie is bad and not every truth is good. I’m sorry.” In my wildest imagination, I couldn’t envision a scenario where Peter would go after my mother to bankrupt us both. The fees from the credit card would’ve had us in debt for the rest of her life and most of mine.

Our society punishes the poor with bad credit, extra fees, and exorbitant interest rates. Once you’re poor, it’s hard to break out of the cycle even if you get an education or have a decent job. I pay a shit ton in bank fees every month for not having the minimum amount required. It’s a never-ending cycle.

“No, you had a point. I can’t protect Madyson from life and if she doesn’t understand the worst of it, she can’t protect herself either. I only gave her part of the information.” Jayce’s eyes cut to us.

“We both made mistakes. I let you shield me.” Her head thunks against the car window.

I sigh. “Thank you both for tonight. It would’ve been disastrous if you weren’t with me. I would’ve yelled at my mom and made it worse. My head’s still going a million miles an hour, spinning the ways I could juggle more debt. I would’ve completely lost my shit and the neighbors definitely would’ve called the cops and then I’d have an arrest record.”

“Not that you’re catastrophizing.” Madyson pokes me in the side.

“It’s my specialty. It’s a gift,” I joke. “But why did my mom say she’s going to help me not be homeless?”

With the streetlights flashing by, I see Madyson turn as red as her hair.

“I explained that because you work so hard to pay her bills and make sure she has a house to live in, you’re homeless.” The last few words are barely audible.

“Why would you tell my mother that? Now she’s going to worry!” She’s already on the verge of another breakdown.

Madyson’s defiant. “Do you have a lease agreement for the loft?” When I don’t answer, she continues, “You don’t have a lease, so you are currently homeless. And she should understand that. You can’t protect her from the truth.” She throws my words back at me.

She’s not completely wrong. “It’s more than mental illness. She has a really low IQ and she can barely read, only at a second or third grade level.” I pause. “I knew I was smarter than my mom at age seven.” My words come out flat and emotionless.

Madyson snakes her arm underneath me, which sends the box on the console into Jayce’s lap. His flexing forearms are an arousing distraction with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he catches the box before it tumbles to the floorboard. He expertly keeps the car in our lane as he sets the box between us. I lick my dry lips.

“That’s rough with your mom,” he says, breaking me out of my reverie.

“Yeah. So I can’t treat her like a fully functioning adult because she’s not. I found her a Medicare program, and she has an aide who comes four times a week and I try to go out twice a week.She should have someone there every day, but sometimes the aides cancel and other times she refuses to let them in.” I’m so fucking tired. I’ve been adulting for way too many years and feel fifty.

“We’ll help now. You’re not alone,” Jayce assures me again.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” I say, letting him back out of his empty promise.

“You’re not asking. We’ll look at Jayce’s game schedule and my shows at the gallery, so one of us will go with you when you visit her. Maybe once she gets used to us, we can give you a break and you won’t have to go every time.” Madyson’s eyes shine with sincerity.

Thankfully, I’m sitting. I shut my eyes, unable to process the gift they’re giving me. I don’t understand why they want to help me. It’s too much.

“It’s not too much. It’s not even close since we’re responsible for tonight. We’ll do anything to make up for the destruction in your life. I caused so much damage by lying. This is only the start of making it up to you.” Jayce reaches over to stroke my ear.

“We kinda sorta think you’re great. And we’re not giving you up. You’re our person.” Madyson’s eyes shine with unshed tears.

“You’re lifesavers. I’m so grateful you pushed your way into my life.” I kiss Madyson’s hair and she turns so I can get her mouth.

She lets out a long breath and grins. “This is kinda like high school piling into a car, but instead of horny teens, we’ve got overpriced vitamins.”

It’s the laugh I need to let the tension in my shoulders go.

“Yeah, that would confuse the cops. They might think we’re doing a mob run for a shipment of vitamins,” I deadpan.

---