Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“I’m going to be really behind at school,” Bird said, sitting up. His hair was sticking out at all angles, and I had to fight the urge to try and smooth it down. Every day Bird was getting a little bit back to his normal independent self, and I knew he’d be pissed if I fussed over him.
“They better not give you any shit,” I replied darkly.
“The principal already called Nana,” Bird said, climbing off the bed. I grimaced as he jostled me. “He said we’ll work somethin’ out.”
“There you go,” I said, nodding.
“Do you think we have any more donuts left?”
“Go check,” I replied, getting to my feet. That wasn’t so bad. “I’m going to check on Nana.”
“She’s outside,” Bird said as he left the room. “I heard her go out the second time Rumi came back.”
I went looking for Nana while Bird went looking for donuts. The thought made me smile. We were still reeling, and I was pretty sure that we wouldn’t get our feet under us anytime soon, but things were slowly starting to feel a little more normal.
“Hey,” I said, peeking out the front door. “What are you doing out here?”
“Thinking,” Nana said, looking up at me from her perch on the front steps. “That boy of yours kissed me on his way out the door.”
“I think he was having a little separation anxiety,” I joked.
“Lotta that going around,” she mused.
“Yeah.” I sat down beside her, looking out at Rumi’s quiet neighborhood. “I haven’t really wanted to leave either.”
“We need to figure out what we’re gonna do,” Nana said quietly.
“Did they clear the trailer so we can go back in?”
Nana shuddered. “Don’t think I can go back there, Bossanova.”
Crossing my arms on my knees, I rested my chin on them. “I don’t want to either.”
“We’ll get it sorted,” she said with a sigh. “Got a call this morning. Those detectives are going to stop by.”
“Why?” I asked suspiciously.
“Not sure.” She didn’t look at me, staring off into space.
“When are they coming?”
“Should be here any time.”
“Is that why you’re out here?”
“Didn’t want to worry Bird,” she said with a small smile. “Guess that ship has sailed.”
“Bring them inside,” I ordered quietly as I got to my feet again. “We deserve to hear what they have to say.”
“Alright, honey.”
I hurried inside to get dressed and cursed as I tried to clasp my bra without Rumi’s help. He hadn’t brought up our relationship, which I was grateful for, but he’d never been more than a few feet away since we’d come to stay with him. Grandma’s separation anxiety comment hadn’t been far from the truth, Rumi had been clingy in the extreme. It didn’t bother me, though, because I was just as anxious whenever he was out of my sight.
I’d just pulled on a pair of Rumi’s sweats when I heard Nana bringing the detectives into the house. Walking as calmly as I could, I shut the bedroom door firmly behind me.
“What are they doing here?” Bird asked, coming out of the kitchen.
“Hi, Firebird,” Kent said with a nod.
“Just Bird,” my brother mumbled.
“Maybe we should sit,” Detective Lira said, putting his hands in his pockets.
My heart began to pound, and I wasn’t sure why as we sat down in Rumi’s living room.
“Out with it,” Nana said, glancing from one detective to the other. “What?”
“We’ve given our recommendation,” Kent said. He glanced at Bird and away. “The shooting was in self-defense.”
“Obviously,” I snapped, wishing he’d say whatever they needed us to sit down for.
“Unfortunately,” Kent continued. “There wasn’t anything we could do about the possession charge.”
“What possession charge?” I asked in confusion as Nana inhaled sharply.
“I’m a felon,” she said apologetically, her voice hoarse. “It’s illegal for me to carry a firearm.”
“It wasn’t yours,” I sputtered. At some point, I’d overheard how Nana had grabbed one of Pop’s handguns out of his saddlebag on her way inside.
“It doesn’t matter,” Detective Lira said quietly.
“Of course it matters,” I spat, jerking to my feet. “She had to protect us. You just said it was self-defense. She’s a hundred pounds soaking wet! What was she supposed to use, her purse?”
“The law is clear—”
“Then the law is bullshit,” I yelled.
“Sometimes,” Kent said quietly.
“What does this mean?” Nana asked, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“You can turn yourself in,” Lira said, his voice kind. “Get your things in order here and then you can come in.”
“Take care of things here?” I said in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“You’re not helping, Nova,” Nana scolded. “Sit down.”
“Does Nana have to go to jail?” Bird asked quietly, his voice trembling.
Kent and Lira looked at each other, then at Bird.
“Probably,” Lira said.
“We’ll do everything we can to—”
“But it’s up to the district attorney.”
“So, you’re about as useless as tits on a boar,” I muttered flatly.
“Ashley,” Detective Kent said, reaching out to put his hand on top of Nana’s. “You let us know when you’re coming in, and we’ll meet you at the station.”