Page 7 of Kid
“I’ll call you when I get home.” I rested a hand on her stomach. “And you let mommy get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
“Nel.”
I hugged her and left.
Instead of going home, I did some grocery shopping, stopped at my favorite bakery then headed home. I used enough time to pack everything away then started in on the mini-cupcakes I’d purchased. While I ate, I messed about on Kid’s Facebook page.
When my phone rang, I was startled, I almost dropped it. Seeing it was my mother’s number, I picked it up immediately.
“Hi aunty Nel.”
“Jeremy.” I smiled. “How are you?”
“Okay, I guess.” He replied. “I wanted to come see you today, but Grandma said no.”
“It’s okay. It’s a school night.”
“You’re taking her side?”
“No, not at all.” I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
Over the last little while it was like my mother was trying to keep Jeremy away from me. Then again, it could just be the fact I didn’t trust her.
“Where is she?” I asked him.
“Went to some book club or something.”
“How about I come get you at school tomorrow and we go out for lunch?” I asked. “I’ll get you back for the class after.”
Jeremy cheered. “Perfect!”
We talked for a little while longer until my mother returned. I ate about six cupcakes, felt sick and guilty then showered and went to bed with a glass of milk.
At some point I fell asleep but managed to wake up in time to meet Jeremy for lunch. He chose a Thai restaurant close to school and we were escorted to a seat close to the glass wall that overlooked the woods on the other side.
“Are you okay?” Jeremy asked in the middle of lunch.
I blinked. “Me? Yeah. Why?”
“You seem far away.”
“I’m sorry.” I used the napkin to tap my lips then set it back in my lap. “I’ve just been thinking about a lot of things. But I’m sorry. How’s your gaming?”
Jeremy eyed me suspiciously but, thankfully, he smiled and delved into a contest he’d entered to design a character for an upcoming game.
“It’s huge, aunty Nel!” He gushed. “If I win this, that’s fifty thousand dollars and credit in the movie. That means, I can start a resume!”
“That’s awesome.”
“Want to see her?”
“The character?”
He nodded.
“Sure.”
Jeremy whipped out his tablet and booted it up then eased it across the empty side of the table toward me. When I lifted the tablet, tears filled my eyes. I could easily see my face, my hair cut to frame my face. The rest of the body was bad-ass. She was dressed in a leather get up and armed with some guns that looked as though one fire could blow a man in half.
