“I searched the whole trailer. I couldn’t find it. I was going to do it myself and sign her name.”
“I wonder if we can get one off the internet or something,” I suggest.
We go into the check cashing place. They cash my check and charge way too much to do so, but I don’t have another option. I need to call the bank to finish setting up that account and figure out a debit card.
“In the bag is a card. Can you put that address into the GPS?”
She does as I ask, though it takes her a minute to figure out the screen.
“Thirty-five minutes,” she says.
“Think we have enough time to get there, get some clothes, then pick up Chrissy from school?”
She grins. “I think we have time to stop for an iced coffee too.”
I reach over to take her hand. “This is the best day of our lives, Cammy. I’m telling you. Everything is going to be so much easier for the foreseeable future.”
We make it to the high school ten minutes before it lets out. We park the car in the back of the lot and walk to the door. Chrissy usually gets on the bus, but we’ll catch her before she does.
The back of the car is filled with bags of clothes for me—okay, not filled because they were expensive as hell. I mean, $100 for a shirt? $250 for pants? That’s crazy.
We stopped at the pharmacy first to get Chrissy’s meds, plus I put a little cash aside to hold us over until I get my first real check. But I did get enough clothes to last me until then, and I told Stewart that I would be back in a few weeks to get more things.
He was sweet and helpful with picking out clothes. He told me all the right shades to wear, and I took his advice. If he thinks I look good in blues and greys, I’ll take his word for it. He is the professional, after all, and Harmon sent me there, so he trusts his opinion.
I’d considered buying Cammy and Chrissy a new outfit too, only when we got there, I realized it was men’s clothes only. With a name like Stewart’s, you’d think I’d have known that before getting there. I’ll buy them clothes when I get paid next. I’ll spoil the hell out of them.
“You think she’s going to be excited?” I ask as we walk toward the doors.
“Hopefully not too excited,” Cammy says.
If Chrissy gets too excited, it sometimes sends her into a seizure. It doesn’t happen as often now as she’s getting older, but it happened a lot when she was little and rambunctious. I hate that her spirit has dampened because of this condition. And there’s not much we can do about it. We’ve tried different meds and different doses, but what she’s on now works the best, but it’s not perfect. She still has seizures sometimes, maybe a few a year, but they aren’t as bad as they were and she can usually tell before it happens so we can prepare.
It’s scary as hell, but we’ve totally got this.
“She’ll be fine,” I say, putting my arm around Cammy. “She deserves to be happy.” I kiss the side of her head. “And so do you. And so do I.”
“It’s not that I’m not happy, Cass. I’m not trying to be negative; I’m trying to be realistic. This feels weird.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m doing it and you’re not.”
We don’t say anything else while we wait. The bell rings, letting us know the kids will flood out at any moment. Oncethe doors open and the kids come out, we both keep our eyes peeled for our sister.
“There she is!” I say, pointing toward Chrissy. “Chrissy!” I call out, waving my arms.
She catches my attention and frowns before smiling curiously. She comes over.
“What are you guys doing here? Did mom die?”
“Jesus, Chrissy,” Cammy says. “No, Mom didn’t die.”
“Shame,” I mutter.
Cammy gives me a scolding look, then turns back to Chrissy. “We have a surprise for you.”
“For me?” she asks.
“Yeah, but don’t get too excited. I mean, get excited, but like—” I look at Cammy for help, but she says nothing.