“But he’s a convict with a record and in association with a gang, if that’s the angle they want to take. God, why is grandma doing this?” he asks, pacing the length of the couch.
“Because she’s lost. They’re not going to win, okay? Me and your dad, we’re getting married Saturday. Our family unit is solid.”
“I don’t want you to do this for me.”
“Hey.” Blue steps up and places her arms on his shoulders. “We were already getting hitched, this is just bumping up the time table. Your father is happier than a pig in slop. He only waited because he thought I wanted the big wedding with all the trimmings.”
“And you don’t?” Bolton asks.
“The only thing I care about is that at the end of the day, the three of us share the same last name.”
Bolton crushes her to him, and I can’t help but see his father in him.
Blue hugs him tight. “Everything is going to be fine, Bolty. You let us worry abo
ut it.”
I meet Blue’s gaze, and the sadness there hurts my heart. I want to claw Calla’s eyes out and leave her in the middle of the desert where the animals will pick her clean. The bitch leaves a wake of destruction everywhere she goes.
Bolton clears his throat and stands up straight. “So, this weekend?”
Blue smiles, and we allow him to regain his dignity.
“Yep, Aunt Dixie Rose was just helping me get all those girly details together.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then,” Bolton says, retreating to his room.
“I swear, I wish I could wring my sister’s fucking neck.”
“Someone needs to,” I say.
Blue sighs. “He’s been through so much. I just want to provide him stability.”
“You have and you are.”
“I’m not. Did you see how terrified he looked?”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done to prevent that. It falls on Calla’s head. Don’t let her fake you out from behind bars. That desperate bitch is grasping at straws. She has no moves left on the board, so she’s trying to create waves to ensure she’s not forgotten. Once you marry and win this case, she’ll be nothing but an unpleasant memory you won’t revisit for another two years,” I say.
“You’re right. Let’s focus on what needs to be done. He needs time to process and be alone. I learned that the hard way over the past few months.”
“Dude, you are someone’s mother,” I whisper in awe.
“Yeah,” she grins, “I am.”
A knock sounds on the door.
“You expecting someone else?”
“Yeah, Ruthie,” Blue answers, and walks over to the door.
The redhead steps inside, obviously fresh out of the shower. Her short hair is slicked back, her grey T-shirt is damp and paired with black yoga pants. “I came as soon as I got your message. God, I’m so sorry, Blue.”
They hug and I shift my weight.
“I can’t believe my mother is helping her,” Blue says. Her voice wavers.
“I love you, Blue, but she’s being a straight up bitch. It’s all I can do not to go beat some sense into her. She’s young enough not to be my elder, and I’m not a part of KOC and bound by their rules.”