“Why are you awake?” Valo asks as he kisses my hair.
“I just opened my eyes,” I tell him.
“Go back to sleep. I don’t have to get up for another hour.”
I turn in his arms. “An hour? I can think of something we can do to pass the time.”
Valo chuckles as I kiss down his chest.
~
The correction officer pats me down and I walk through another metal detector. Like last time, I follow the line of families into the same room where I saw Mom before. I sit at the same bench, away from the children, because no one needs to hear what I’m about to lay out to this woman.
After a few moments, the far side door opens and the inmates begin to shuffle in. Mom is one of the last ones to come in. She sits across from me and folds her hands.
“Twice in one stint, what’s up?”
I look at her. I study every line of her face and realize she looks much older than her thirty-six years. Her eyes are bright and even though her hair is flat, it’s shiny.
“Jade, what do you want?”
I blink at her a few times. “I want to say goodbye.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t have you in my life anymore while you’re on drugs and whoring around. I’m done. I’m not going to stand by your side and watch you kill yourself slowly. I’m not doing it anymore. You’re my mom and I do care about you, but I need to live my life and I’m going to do that. I have a boyfriend who loves me and wants to help me, and I’m going to let him.”
“Pfft, you’re the one who needs to realize that he’s using?”
“No,” I cut her off. “He loves me. He’s the only person who’s ever loved me and I love him.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “What the fuck do you know about love?”
“Not a damn thing, thanks to you. However, he’s showing me what a good person I am and what I can do with my life.”
She narrows her eyes at me.
“When you want to clean yourself up, call me, but until then, don’t come near me.” I stand up. “Bye, Mom.”
I walk out with my head held high.
~
I park the truck and hop out with a bright smile on my face as I walk into Love Spa. I give the blonde my name and sit down in the lobby with several other women who are waiting. I pick up one of the magazines and listen to the conversation around me. Of course, it’s all about traveling, shopping, and whatever community services they’re working on.
“Jade!”
I turn and see Mona calling me back. I stand and follow her to her station and take my seat.
“Girl, where have you been? It feels like forever.”
I shrug. Normally, I would lie. I would’ve come up with some elaborate story about being in Europe or what not, but this time, I don’t.
“I had issues I needed to straighten out. Now, I’m back on track.”
“That’s good to hear.” She smiles at me. “So, are you still friends with Valo Manner?” She eyes me until I give her the answer she’s looking for.
“More than friends,” I smile at her.