Angel of Redemption (13 page)

“
It might be good if I work with Emily
to bring Matty down. Just in case this happens again,
”
she says.

“
Why can
’
t
I do it?
”
I ask. Kayla stops walking and turns
to face me.

“
Um, I don
’
t know. He
’
s never responded to a male before. I spent years trying to
break through to him.
”

“
I think what you did in there was pretty
impressive.
”

“
Trial and error.
”
She shrugs.
“
He
’
s been sedated a few times. I figured
I
’
d do whatever it took to keep that
from happening when I could. Like I said, it doesn
’
t happen that often.
”
We
’
re standing in the foyer, and I
’
m staring at her.

“
What?
”
she asks.

“
I don
’
t
know what to make of you.
”

“
What does that mean?
”
she laughs.

“
I mean
…”
I have to be careful of what I say here. I don
’
t want to cross the lines of our professional relationship
any more than I already have.
“
I guess I
’
m just surprised. I
’
m not used to workers going out of their way for the kids
in their caseloads.
”

“
That
’
s sad,
”
she says, the corners of her mouth turning down.
“
I think there are a lot of us, though. It
’
s just hard because of the things we
see. I
’
m
not saying there aren
’
t plenty of bad ones out
there—I know
there are—
but
sometimes it
’
s
easier to close yourself off emotionally than to try and make sense of what
these kids go through. I happen to be able to handle a lot more than most.
”

She
stares directly into my eyes when she says this and I have to wonder if there
’
s another meaning to her words. But I
can
’
t
think about that, because it doesn
’
t matter. I can
’
t go there with her, no matter how much I may be tempted.

“
So, do you think I might be able to
help Matty?
”
I ask.

“
We can try. I
’
ll talk to him about it.
”

I
nod and open the front door.
“
Okay. I guess I
’
ll see you later,
”
I whisper as she passes by me.
“
Thanks.
”

“
You
’
re
welcome. Good night, Dean.
”

I
watch her walk down the steps and onto the gravel. I
’
m still standing there, in the cold,
when she gets into her car and waves. I stay there until I can
’
t see her taillights anymore. Finally,
I step back inside and close the door, letting out a puff of air.

“
Good night, Kayla.
”

Kayla

Once again, I find myself leaving Wyatt House completely
confused. Whatever the dynamic is between Dean and me, it
’
s extremely frustrating.

There
’
s a sweet guy underneath all those layers of asshole. There
has to be. Not many foster parents are up for what these boys have already
brought to the table.

On
my way back home, I can
’
t get the image of Dean
’
s tats out of my head. The black-and-red
scorpion on his left forearm, in all its magnificent detail
—
tail curled up, ready to strike. His other arm completely
covered
—at least everywhere I could see—
with vivid colors disappearing
underneath the fabric of his shirt. I think about my move to uncover his whole
arm and his sudden and desperate attempt to stop me. I can feel my cheeks heat
in delayed embarrassment. I shouldn
’
t have pushed it. He was right to stop me. There
’
s just something about a hot guy covered in ink that does
things to me. Things I
’
d rather not admit to anyone.

First
thing on Monday morning, I get a call from one of my foster parents just
outside of Duluth asking me to come up for a meeting with his school. I have
kids placed all over the state and I have to travel to see them every month. I
’
ve already seen this kid, but that doesn
’
t really matter. When a guardian is requested, I have to
go.

“
I can go to Wyatt House for you.
”
Sara smiles. She
’
s on call, but she
’
s meant to take care of emergencies. Preparing Logan for
the real world is not considered an emergency.

“
No, you can
’
t,
”
I snap. I
’
m agitated. I
’
ve barely unpacked my things, and now I have to pack them
all back up again.

“
Sure I can. Give me your notes. I
’
ll follow them word-for-word.
”
I glare at Sara.
“
Or
not,
”
she laughs.
“
I just thought maybe you
’
d like a break from Wyatt House since
you
’
ve
been there three times in the last week.
”

I put my thumbnail into my mouth, finally looking
up at my friend. The look in her eyes tells me she’s suspicious.

“What’s going on?”

“
Nothing,
”
I say too quickly.
“
I
just don
’
t want to drive all the way to Duluth
again. It
’
s an entire day.
”

“
I
’
ve
taken over your IL sessions before.
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
So, why not this one?
”

I
take a deep, annoyed breath, but don
’
t
answer her. She watches me for a minute before shrugging.

“
Okay. I guess I
’
ll see you tomorrow then. Drive safely.
”

“
Yeah,
”
I sigh.
“
I will.
”

* * *

Two hours into my traffic-filled drive, I stop to get gas
and my third cup of coffee. I
’
d been holding onto the slight chance
that I might finish and get back in time to make it to my appointment with
Logan, but I need to admit that there
’
s no way it
’
s going to happen. I need to call and
cancel.

“
Wyatt House, how can I help you?
”

“
Hey, Emily, it
’
s Kayla.
”

“
Hi, Kayla. How are you?
”
she greets.
“
I hear you are capable of amazing
things, my friend.
”

I
laugh.
“
Oh really? Who told you that?
”

“
My husband came home singing your praises.
He was very impressed. What can I do for you today?
”

“
Well, that
’
s always nice to hear,
”
I say, smiling to myself.
“
I
won
’
t
be able to make my Independent Living session with Logan this afternoon. I
’
m heading up to Duluth for an
emergency meeting.
”

I
can hear papers rustling in the background and then Emily responds.
“
Oh, okay. Do you want to reschedule?
”

I
try to remember my schedule for the rest of the week. Things are going to be
all messed up because of this surprise trip.

“
I have Thursday afternoon free, but I
’
m on call. Can someone bring him to my
office?
”

“
Yeah, of course. They should be home
from school around three. What time were you thinking?
”

“
Anytime after that is fine, preferably
before five. I really appreciate it, Emily.
”

“
My pleasure,
”
she says warmly.
“
I
wanted to ask you something, though.
”
The gas pump clicks, letting me know the tank is full. I
wait for her to continue as I finish up and climb into the car.
“
I was hoping that maybe you
’
d like to grab a cup of coffee with me
this weekend.
”

I
wasn
’
t
expecting that. I don
’
t usually socialize with my foster parents outside of work.
Not because I don
’
t
want to, but because it would be weird. But Emily isn
’
t really one of my foster parents, is
she? I must take too long to contemplate, because Emily speaks again.

“
Kayla? Are you still there?
”

“
Oh, yeah. Sorry. Um, sure, that sounds
like fun. Where?
”

“
My daughter
’
s birthday is coming up, and I was
going to do some shopping. How about Mall of America? The Starbucks on level
one? Around ten o
’
clock?
”

“
That sounds great. I
’
ll see you there.
”

I
hang up and pull back onto I-35. Well, this will be a first for me, but I
’
m excited. Emily Wyatt seems really nice. I can
’
t wait to get to know her better. And maybe I
’
ll be able to get a little bit of info on that
brother-in-law of hers as well.

* * *

I don’t end up getting back home until almost eight
o’clock.
All I want to do is fall into bed, but Andy informs me that Claire is at a
friend
’
s
house studying, and I need to go pick her up.

“
You couldn
’
t have called to tell me that half an
hour ago when I was still on the road?
”
I groan, irritated and desperately shoving anything I can
find into my mouth. I
’
ve barely eaten today, and I
’
m starving.

“
Sorry,
”
my brother mutters without looking up from his computer.
“
I was working and lost track of time. I
’
ve got a trial tomorrow that I
’
m not ready for.
”

I
sigh heavily, grab my purse, and turn back toward the door.

When
I get to the address Andy provided, I pull up in front of a massive estate.
Taking out my phone, I start to text Claire that I
’
m outside, but before I get a chance
to hit
SEND
, I look up to see my little sister
running from the house. When she reaches the car, I know right away that
something
’
s
wrong. Her eyes are red and there are tear tracks staining her cheeks.

“
What happened?
”
I ask.

“
Nothing. Just go, please.
”
She sniffles. I start to drive, but I
’
m not about to let it slide. Claire
buckles her seat belt and turns to face the window. After a couple minutes, I
ask her again.

“
Claire, what happened?
”

“
It
’
s stupid,
”
she says, her voice faltering.

“
I don
’
t care if it
’
s stupid. I still want to know,
”
I insist. She wipes her eyes with her fingertips and
sniffles again.

“
I told Lily a week ago that I kind of
liked this guy, Harrison. He
’
s a senior and really cute.
”
She stops and takes a few breaths. Ah, this is about a boy.

“
Okay?
”
I urge.

“
So she invited him to the study
session tonight, and I thought she did it for me.
”
I narrow my eyes. There
’
s only one way this can go.
“
They went to get some drinks and snacks from the kitchen,
and they were taking a long time, so I went to find them.
”
I grimace, knowing exactly what
’
s coming.
“
I didn
’
t even see them, but I could hear them in the pantry. They
were totally going at it,
”
she whimpered. My heart is breaking
for my little sister. It seemed so trivial, but, when you
’
re sixteen, it
’
s everything.
“
I mean, it
’
s not like he was my boyfriend or anything, but she
knew
I liked him. How could she do that
to me?
”

“
I don
’
t know, sweetie,
”
I sigh.
“
Sometimes it
’
s things like this that tell us who
our real friends are.
”

“
I
’
ve been going to school with Lily since I was five, Kayla.
If she
’
s
not a real friend, then who is?
”

I
don
’
t
have any answers for her. I wish I did.

Getting
back to my house, Claire goes straight to her room. Andy hasn
’
t moved from his spot, but he does
look up. I flop down on the couch next to him and put my head on his shoulder.

“
What
’
s the matter with Claire?
”

“
Teenage girl stuff.
”

“
Ah.
”

“
What do I do?
”

“
Uh
…
I
don
’
t
know. Listen. Support. And then I guess you let her figure it out by herself?
”

“
That
’
s
the advice you
’
ve got for me? That
’
s kinda lame.
”

“
I
’
m
a guy, Kay. I don
’
t know anything.
”

I
laugh.
“
True. We need to find you a good
woman, Andy.
”