Page 51 of The Picasso Heist
The moment comes, as it always does. A seemingly random point when everything shifts just so and gives you that perfectly clear view. Only it’s not random. It’s meant to be. And it’s—
“Beautiful,” whispers Michelle. “It’s not confusing at all. It’s beautiful.”
“I think you’re right.”
“It’s everything around it that’s confusing. All these people moving…”
The whole world.
“So how does it make you feel?” I ask.
Michelle answers quickly,beautifully.“Like someone just told me a wonderful secret and I’m the only other person who knows,” she says.
CHAPTER46
DEENA MAXWELL GREETSus with a huge smile as we walk through the door of the Sisterhood Foster Home. “Hi there, Michelle! Did you have fun with Halston today?” she asks.
Deena’s official title is facility director, although everyone calls her “Miss D.” The woman’s a saint. In the chaotic lives of these girls, Miss D is the definition ofcalmness. Their port in the storm.
“I had such a great time,” says Michelle, beaming. “I went to my first museum today. It was really neat.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” says Miss D. “Tell you what, why don’t you go wash up for dinner. I’m just going to talk to Halston for a minute, okay?”
From day one Michelle has always been polite with her goodbyes to me, always saying thank you. Today, for the first time, she hugs me.
“I can’t wait for next weekend,” she says.
“Me neither,” I tell her.
“And guess what? A few weekends after that, you get to meet my mom!”
I’m about to say how much I’m looking forward to that when I catch Miss D’s eye. It’s just for a second, but that’s all it takes—something’s up. Miss D intervenes.
“Okay, sweetheart,” she says, cupping the back of Michelle’s head. “You don’t want to be late for dinner. Go wash up, okay? It’s pizza night, you know.”
“Yum!” says Michelle, racing up the stairs.
Miss D waits until Michelle’s out of earshot. “I’ve got a horrible poker face,” she says to me. “You saw that, huh?”
“Is there a problem with her mother?” I ask. “Has she—”
“Relapsed? No, that’s not it. In fact, from what I’ve been told, she’s doing very well in the halfway house.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“It’s what happens next,” says Miss D. “Michelle keeps looking at the calendar, counting down from six months because that’s how long the rehab program is. Her mother hasn’t had the heart to tell her that it’s going to take longer. The two were living well below the poverty line beforehand. The state will help with at least a minimum-wage job and, eventually, housing, but not until they’re convinced that Michelle’s mother can hold down a job while staying clean.”
“How long will that take?”
“It depends. There’ll be a caseworker assigned, and it will ultimately be based on his or her recommendation. The goal is for Michelle’s mother to be able to deal with the daily pressures of life without succumbing to the temptation of her addiction.”
“But on average?” I ask.
“Figure another four to six months.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I wish I were.”
