On the Loose by Jenny B. Jones

Author:Jenny B. Jones [Jones, Jenny B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Family, Orphans & Foster Homes, Religious, Christian, General, Social Issues, Christian Fiction, Theater, foster care, YA, Drama, Friendship, Texas
ISBN: 9781600061158
Google: h0NcGQAACAAJ
Publisher: Th1nk
Published: 2007-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

I sit in a chair next to James. The sea foam walls of Millie’s hospital room do nothing to soothe my fried nerves. Maxine continues to file her nails, and if Millie doesn’t wake up soon, Maxine’s bound to break out the fingernail polish.

I twist the string of my hoodie round and round my finger. Is now a good time to tell James his daughter is a total freak? Would it be appropriate to use this moment to ask why nobody told me Psycho Daughter was adopted? Why does this family keep everything from me?

Maybe they even adopted Maxine.

My foster grandmother yawns loudly then catches my eye. “Huevos Rancheros make me gassy.”

I see a small movement of feet under Millie’s sheet. Then an arm shifts. And finally, two eyes struggle to gain focus of the room.

James shoots out of his seat and settles on the bed next to his wife. “Hey, hon.” He smoothes her blonde hair away from her pale face. “How are you feeling?”

Millie’s eyes travel across the room then settle on James. Her head bobs in a nod. “Not . . . bad.” Her voice is low and weak.

My foster mom gives a sluggish smile toward me. “How’s school today?”

Maxine coughs twice.

“Well, I kind of didn’t go.”

Millie frowns. Nice to know in her drugged-out stupor she can still put her mom face on.

Her manicure complete, Maxine walks to the other side of the bed. “About time you woke up. I wanted to turn the TV on, but James wouldn’t let me. He said the citizens of Salem could get along without me for one day.” She snorts in disbelief.

“Why’s Katie not in school?”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Maxine picks up Millie’s hand on the bed. “James, tell Millie who’s here.”

James pours Millie a cup of water and holds the straw to her mouth. “Amy’s here. Or was here. Er, I guess is here.”

Millie tries to sit up.

“No, no, lay back down.” James puts a hand on her shoulder. “You have plenty of time to see her.” His mouth curves. “She looks good. A little thin, but good.”

Amy looks like she hasn’t eaten in a year. Her hair is sprouting split ends and crying out for a trim. And she shakes like a car antenna. Yeah, she looks real good.

Millie pushes the water away. “Where is she?” Her words slur. “Where is she, James?”

“She’ll be back soon. She went to the house. To rest.”

Or to steal my laptop. I do not trust that girl.

Millie lays her head back, a smile on her lips. “My baby’s home.”

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