Page 7 of In Her Sights
“No.” The response was immediate and unhesitating. “You know the rules. We let you live here, but you have to support yourself otherwise.” Even though she didn’t want to get into another drama-filled conversation so late at night, the words just popped out. “That’s one of the things we need to talk about. You’re supposed to be helping with utilities and groceries, but you haven’t contributed in months.” More like years, Molly thought, but she was trying to be a little tactful, at least. “I know you scammed some money from Cara last week. If you’re not going to give that back to her, at least use it to fix your car.”
Annoyance flickered over Jane’s face, disappearing so quickly that Molly would’ve thought she’d imagined it if she didn’t know her mom so well. Jane’s expression morphed into something that somehow radiated sad guilt and martyrdom in equal measures. “I didn’t scam my own daughter. Just because you’re hard and suspicious doesn’t mean you should bully your sister into being that way as well. Cara’s sweet and caring, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
It was difficult for Molly to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Apparently, Cara’s the favorite tonight. “You’re right. There’s nothing wrong with being caring and sweet. There is something wrong with taking money that your daughter needs for school.”
Shifting her weight, Jane jutted out one hip, her hands still tucked into her right back pocket—guarding the keys, Molly assumed. “If Cara doesn’t have enough money for school, that’s not on me. Maybe you should be paying her more for the work she does. You know she doesn’t like this bounty-hunter nonsense. The least you can do is offer her a fair wage.”
“Stop.” The word came out with a snap that showed just how close Molly was to losing her temper. “We’re not talking about this now…or ever, really. What we are talking about is how you’re going to hand over my car keys right now.”
Still Jane hesitated, and Molly knew her mom’s mind was clicking away, trying to come up with a new plan to get what she wanted. Jane always had a plan B, and she consistently figured a dozen ways out of any trap. That was how she’d survived for almost fifty years when she’d been conning people out of money since she was old enough to bat her lashes and talk her way into getting an extra piece of candy—or, if that failed, just stealing it.
“Mom.” Molly used the firm tone that Jane had tried on her. “Keys. Now. You know I won’t hesitate to tackle you.”
Her mom’s mouth drew down in an unhappy frown. Molly tightened her jaw and didn’t lower her arm or her gaze. After a tense few seconds, Jane dug out the keys and slapped them against Molly’s extended palm.
“Thank you.” Fighting not to let her relief show, Molly fisted her fingers around the key fob and dropped her arm to her side. She didn’t move away from the door, holding her ground as her mom gave a dramatic huff and flounced into the living room—at least as much as someone wearing skintight cat-burglar gear could flounce. “Be safe,” Molly called softly from her spot in the kitchen.
Jane’s only response was to slam the front door behind her. Grimacing at the loud noise and the acrid taste the scene had left in her mouth, Molly leaned back against the garage door and waited for the inevitable sound of footsteps from the upper floor. Nails clicked against the ancient linoleum as Warrant crossed the kitchen to press against her legs. Grateful for the support, she rubbed behind his ears.
“Everything okay?” Norah was the first to pop her sleep-mussed head into the kitchen.
“Yeah.” Holding up the key fob, Molly gave it a little shake. “Just preemptively stopping some grand theft auto.”
“Mom?” Norah moved the rest of the way into the kitchen, tugging the hem of her oversize sleep shirt over her shorts. Cara and Charlie came into the kitchen just in time to hear Norah’s question and immediately turned to head back to bed, Warrant following them. He knew Cara was a sucker and would let him sleep on her bed, even though he was notorious for taking over the entire thing.
Charlie’s voice filtered back into the kitchen. “It was just Mom, Fifi. Go back to bed.”
The sound of three sets of footsteps and one set of paws thumping up the stairs along with Felicity’s grumbles—although Molly couldn’t hear whether she was complaining about Jane’s lack of courtesy or the hated nickname—gradually quieted. Molly turned her attention back to Norah, who still seemed to be waiting for an answer, even though it was obvious.
“Yeah, Mom tried to trade cars with me.” Molly forced a smile for her sister. Although Norah was almost twenty-four, she looked younger, thanks to her usual anxious expression and the way her baggy pajamas overwhelmed her slight frame. Her medical alert bracelet hung around her wrist like a bangle, even though it was tightened to the smallest setting.
“Why did she need your car?” Norah asked.
Molly made a face as she moved over to her abandoned seat and plopped down in it. “Apparently, I’m not the mom, so I don’t get to ask that.”
The tension in Norah’s face faded slightly as she settled on the other chair. “Did she sell her car again for cash?”
“No. It’s just making an odd noise—or that’s what she said, at least.” Propping her elbow on the table and setting her chin in her hand, Molly arched her eyebrows at Norah. Her sister knew as well as Molly that their mom played fast and loose with the truth. “I’m guessing it’s something else, like she dropped part of her burrito under the seat and it’s starting to really stink.”
Norah gave a small huff of a laugh, and Molly grinned, triumphant that she’d gotten her sister’s anxiety to ease—at least temporarily. Not wanting her to dwell on where Jane was going or why she’d wanted Molly’s car, since Norah always assumed the worst possible scenarios were true, Molly quickly changed the subject.
“I hate having conversations like that with Mom,” she said, slumping forward even more to rest her cheek on her crossed arms. “I turn into this strict, mean, no-fun rules, rules, rules nun-teacher person who I kind of hate.”
“You have to.” Norah mirrored her position so they both had their heads down, facing each other. “If you don’t set rules, then there will be no rules. Mom certainly isn’t going to set any. And I don’t hate your nun-teacher person. I find her reassuring.”
“Not very fun, though.”
“Fun has its place,” Norah said seriously. “Without rules, fun can be really scary. Remember Mom’s middle-of-the-night family dance parties that time Lono left for a few months?”
Molly grimaced. “Now I do. I’ve worked really hard to forget that mess. Thanks for the reminder, Norah.”
Even though Molly had been teasing, Norah didn’t smile as she played with her medical alert bracelet. “At least she stopped after I went to the hospital during the last one.”
That erased the last bit of Molly’s amusement. “I should’ve kept her from dragging you out of bed that night. I knew it would lead to an asthma attack. Back then, you had to nebulize after going up the stairs too fast.”
“Not your fault.” Releasing her bracelet, Norah gripped her own forearm. “She’s the mom. You were, what? Nine?”
Molly forced the memory of that horrible night to the back of her mind. If she allowed herself to dwell on all the nightmares Jane had caused, she would get angry and bitter, and Norah would feel guilty about bringing it up. “I’m just glad your asthma’s under control now. No ER visits in six years.” Without raising her head, she lifted her hand for a high five. Norah smacked her palm lightly as they both started to smile at each other.
