Of course I deserve good things. We all do. Wealldo. Not just me, but us. Of course I have to do my best, go above and beyond, to make sure we all have the best life possible.
Careful not to wake up Cammy, who is snoring, I get out of bed and jump in the shower. I make breakfast and while I eat, I open up my text thread with Chrissy and debate sending her a text.
I’m sure she’s put it on silent at this point, if the witch hasn’t already found it. Chrissy may be young, but she isn’t stupid. She’s dealt with our mother all her life too. She knows what to do to keep herself safe. I send her a text.
Me
Are you okay?
I stare at the screen even though I know I won’t hear anything back for a while. There’s no way she’s lying around and staring at her phone. She has it hidden away somewhere and will check it when she can. That doesn’t ease my anxiety at all, and I almost jump out of my seat to rush there and take her back here. But even I know that’s stupid.
I finish eating, clean up my mess, then spend some time organizing the bathroom while I wait for the time to leave.
“Morning,” Cammy mumbles as she walks by the bathroom.
“Morning,” I call back. “I’m leaving in twenty minutes.”
“Can you drop me off at work before you go?”
“Sure can.”
I finish putting away our stock pile of soaps and shampoos into the small closet in the bathroom, then grab my stuff. Cammy is already waiting for me by the door.
“You need to schedule a road test,” I tell her.
“I’ll do it today. You going to let me drive this fancy car of yours?”
“Maybe if you’re lucky.”
I drop Cammy off at work, which gets her there an hour early, but she said it’s better than having to ride the bus. My drive into the city takes a while, thanks to traffic, but I make it there with time to spare. Being able to park in the underground lot that’s only for employees makes things easier. It also feels a little weird, because I don’t fit in at a place like this.
In the elevator, I use the shiny wall surface to check my reflection and make sure my tie is straight and my vest doesn’t have any lint on it.
The doors open and I step into a hallway. Across from me is a glass wall, and on the other side are working people at desks. They’re well-dressed, on phones, typing on computers, doing all the stuff you’d expect someone in an office to be doing.
On the door in fancy gold script lettering isLaw Offices of Hamel and Kohler. I don’t even know which of them that I spoke to this morning, which may be a problem when I don’t know who to ask for.
Still, I won’t let that stop me. I pull open the door and go to the desk with a receptionist plaque on it, to find a smiling woman who is very pretty.
“Good afternoon. You must be Cassius Carr,” she says as I reach the desk.
“Uh, yeah. That’s me.”
“Wonderful. I’ll let Mr. Kohler know you’re here. You can have a seat right over there.” She gestures to my left, where there are a few cozy armchairs and a table with magazines that are laid out too nicely. I sit but don’t touch anything because it feels like it isn’t supposed to be touched. I’m sitting for less than a minute when she calls my name.
“Mr. Carr, he’s ready to see you.”
I get to my feet and follow her down the hallway and into a small conference room.
“Can I get you anything? Water, tea, coffee?”
I recall the iced tea I had when I met Harmon here. “Do you have any iced tea?”
“Sure thing. I’ll be right back.”
She brings me the familiar bottle a moment later, and I smile as I crack it open. I need to figure out where I can buy this stuff. It’s so good.
“Mr. Kohler will be here in a moment. Make yourself comfortable.”