nothing less than torture. It’s so bad that when I finally get off the bike, I puke all over my shoes.
“You’re gonna be all right?” Dmitry asks, tossing my keys to me.
“Absolutely, my prince,” I say, wishing him away. I’d rather die alone than under his insolent gaze.
I take a few deep breaths after he leaves and decide to go see Mimi. She must be really mad at me. I need to explain why I left last night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The ride to Mimi’s house isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, though I’ve never been so aware of the potholes. My head clears a little, and I stop on the way to get some water. I need to flush this crap out of my system.
All the benefits from the ride vanish when I reach Mimi’s front door. It’s been kicked open, and both rooms have been methodically destroyed. The mattress has been ripped apart and the furniture turned into chopped wood. The closet is empty except from some wire hangers and a few plastic bags. Only the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink show that the place was lived in yesterday.
And in a corner, right behind the open kitchen door, there is a chair with my leather jacket. It’s not entirely dry, but I put it on as I rush out the door. I force myself to breathe normally while I ride to All Saints School. Classes stop at two today, and that’s only half an hour away. By the school door, I pass the time drinking more water and walking around my bike like a caged lion. When the kids come rushing out, I scan the face as they run by me. Even though my mind refuses to consider the possibility, I have no choice but to admit that Toussaint’s not there. I step into the bushes to get closer to the gate and almost slip in a puddle. A few mothers look at me sideways. They must think I’m some sort of pervert hiding in the bushes and stalking kids. They can think what they want—I don’t care at all. The door closes after the last kid has left, and I don’t know what to do.
Think, just think. Okay, let’s suppose she has taken Toussaint. That’s good, it means they’re together. Where would she go? Where would she take him? I don’t think she has any family other than Toussaint. If she had, they would have come to Josette’s funeral.
Do I know any of her friends? No. During all the time I spent with her and Toussaint, she never talked about any friends. The only one I know of is Marie, but I don’t even know Marie’s last name. I just know that she works at the hospital.
Maybe Sally will know something. They’re not good friends, but they took classes together, and they seem to like each other. And if Sally doesn’t know anything, then I’ll go through Mimi’s locker at work. If there’s nothing in the locker, I’ll go to her college and get her file and see who her emergency contact is. That person will know where Mimi is.
Now that I have some sort of a plan, I feel a little better. I ride home, toss my vomit-and-mud-caked jeans into the hamper, and set my jacket on the back of the chair. This thing will never be dry again.
Under the shower, I turn on the cold water and progressively get the temperature up until the water is scalding. I only stop when the tank runs out of hot water. I hope that, by now, my head is clear. That drug is weird. I really felt as though I were fine. I grab an old windbreaker and run down the stairs.
My mother calls from the kitchen, “David, I’ve got a sandwich for you.”
The idea of food makes my stomach flip, but I’m bound to be hungry at some point, so I run in the kitchen and take the bag she’s prepared for me.
“Are you gonna be on the night shift much longer?” she asks, lovingly brushing my hair out of my eyes.
“I’m not sure, Mom.” I give her a peck on the cheek and rush out of the kitchen.
She follows me out to the garage. “Well, I sure hope not, because I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I tell her before I ride away.
I need to spend more time with my mom. I
“You’re gonna be all right?” Dmitry asks, tossing my keys to me.
“Absolutely, my prince,” I say, wishing him away. I’d rather die alone than under his insolent gaze.
I take a few deep breaths after he leaves and decide to go see Mimi. She must be really mad at me. I need to explain why I left last night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The ride to Mimi’s house isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, though I’ve never been so aware of the potholes. My head clears a little, and I stop on the way to get some water. I need to flush this crap out of my system.
All the benefits from the ride vanish when I reach Mimi’s front door. It’s been kicked open, and both rooms have been methodically destroyed. The mattress has been ripped apart and the furniture turned into chopped wood. The closet is empty except from some wire hangers and a few plastic bags. Only the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink show that the place was lived in yesterday.
And in a corner, right behind the open kitchen door, there is a chair with my leather jacket. It’s not entirely dry, but I put it on as I rush out the door. I force myself to breathe normally while I ride to All Saints School. Classes stop at two today, and that’s only half an hour away. By the school door, I pass the time drinking more water and walking around my bike like a caged lion. When the kids come rushing out, I scan the face as they run by me. Even though my mind refuses to consider the possibility, I have no choice but to admit that Toussaint’s not there. I step into the bushes to get closer to the gate and almost slip in a puddle. A few mothers look at me sideways. They must think I’m some sort of pervert hiding in the bushes and stalking kids. They can think what they want—I don’t care at all. The door closes after the last kid has left, and I don’t know what to do.
Think, just think. Okay, let’s suppose she has taken Toussaint. That’s good, it means they’re together. Where would she go? Where would she take him? I don’t think she has any family other than Toussaint. If she had, they would have come to Josette’s funeral.
Do I know any of her friends? No. During all the time I spent with her and Toussaint, she never talked about any friends. The only one I know of is Marie, but I don’t even know Marie’s last name. I just know that she works at the hospital.
Maybe Sally will know something. They’re not good friends, but they took classes together, and they seem to like each other. And if Sally doesn’t know anything, then I’ll go through Mimi’s locker at work. If there’s nothing in the locker, I’ll go to her college and get her file and see who her emergency contact is. That person will know where Mimi is.
Now that I have some sort of a plan, I feel a little better. I ride home, toss my vomit-and-mud-caked jeans into the hamper, and set my jacket on the back of the chair. This thing will never be dry again.
Under the shower, I turn on the cold water and progressively get the temperature up until the water is scalding. I only stop when the tank runs out of hot water. I hope that, by now, my head is clear. That drug is weird. I really felt as though I were fine. I grab an old windbreaker and run down the stairs.
My mother calls from the kitchen, “David, I’ve got a sandwich for you.”
The idea of food makes my stomach flip, but I’m bound to be hungry at some point, so I run in the kitchen and take the bag she’s prepared for me.
“Are you gonna be on the night shift much longer?” she asks, lovingly brushing my hair out of my eyes.
“I’m not sure, Mom.” I give her a peck on the cheek and rush out of the kitchen.
She follows me out to the garage. “Well, I sure hope not, because I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I tell her before I ride away.
I need to spend more time with my mom. I
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