“It’s okay, sweets,” he says, kissing my head.
“And you two,” Darian says to our parents when I pull away. “You two should be fucking ashamed of yourselves. What the fuck is wrong with you that you can’t act like you have some sort of common sense?”
“Guys...” Mom starts to say.
“If you ever talk to your daughter like that again, I swear to God, you’ll regret the day you met me,” Declan threatens. “She is your child and you just treated her like trash. You, of all people, should fucking know better because you had men beating you and screaming at you while she watched. She has anxiety because you kept her in that environment. She just panicked because the one person in the world whoshouldprotect her screamed at her.”
“I know,” Mom says softly.
“You raised us to be proud of ourselves and to own our decisions,” Darian says to Charlie. “If you can’t accept this, then fuck you. We are adults and can do whatever we want. The fact that you two came in here screaming like a bunch of children is ridiculous.”
“Let’s not forget that your immediate response was to blame her,” Declan says.
“I’m sorry, guys. We overreacted,” Charlie says cautiously. “Mia... I’m sorry.”
“Don't apologize to me just because you got cussed out by your son,” I snap.
“Mia, honey. Your mother and I have seen too many panic attacks of yours to count. I have never seen someone calm you down the way they just did. You understand that, right? If that doesn’t say something about the bond that you three have, I don't know what does,” Charlie says.
“He’s right,” Mom says. “I’m sorry, Mia. I shouldn’t have said any of that.” She walks closer and puts her arms out. I roll my eyes but hug her.
“Please don’t treat me like that,” I say quietly. “I know it was shocking but I didn’t deserve to be treated like some whore.”
“I know. I’m sorry, honey,” she says as she pulls away.
“I have so many questions but none that I want an answer for,” Charlie says, and I laugh. “I do know that we will knock from now on and give you three plenty of notice before we show up.”
“Good,” Declan says. “Because that was really unfortunate timing for Mia.”
“Just another thing to add to the list of things I wish I could unknow,” Charlie says.
“Don’t worry,” Darian says to me. “We’ll finish what we started later.”
“Alright. I’m uncomfortable now,” Mom says as she turns and leaves the room but stops in the hallway to wait on Charlie.
“We will be in town until tomorrow afternoon. Call us afterwhile and we can meet for dinner,” Charlie says, then hugs me. “We love you guys. Don’t get pregnant.”
“Uh...” I say. “I... might have to take a test tomorrow.”
“Christ... Okay.” Charlie sighs and turns to mom. “We can always move closer so we can help, and no one has to quit school.”
Chapter twelve
Sweet As Sugar
Dad's Best Friend
I am standing inthe checkout line, counting quarters. I am trying to get bread, lunchmeat, peanut butter, strawberry jelly, and ramen noodles so I don’t starve to death. I am using the last of my money, which sucks because I need gas to get to work. I can ride the subway, but I always end up getting groped by some creep. I hate working at Astrid’s Diner, but I can’t seem to find a job.
I have a bachelor's degree in business administration. I have no issues getting an interview but the moment that they find out my father is Allen Richards, who owns West Richards Financial group, they end the interview. I have even applied out of state, but no one wants anything to do with the daughter of the owner of the largest investment companies in the country.
You’d think being the daughter of someone so rich would mean I wouldn’t be standing here counting change, so I don’t die of starvation, but no. Dad thinks it builds character. I have never asked him for anything because I know he would say no. I wouldn’t even ask for much though. I could make a hundred dollars last a month in groceries. Hell, I don’t even use my lights or television,so my power bill is low. I never turn on my heat or air conditioning either. I have blankets if I get cold and windows if it gets hot.
“Your total is $18.87,” the lady tells me.
“Shit,” I mumble. I’m a dollar short. I look at my items and think about what to put back. The peanut butter, jelly, and lunch meat is useless if I get rid of the bread. I could pick the ramen, but then I would either be going without eating or my food wouldn’t last as long as I need it to. “I’m sorry... uhm... can I just put back the... ramen. I’m so sorry.”
The woman rolls her eyes and goes to take the noodles off the total. “I’ll just run it as debit,” I hear a familiar voice say as someone steps behind me and puts their card in the machine.