Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck

Author:Kristin Billerbeck
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: JUV033200, JUV033220, JUV033240, Buenos Aires (Argentina)—Fiction, Vacations—Fiction, Dating (Social customs)—Fiction, Christian life—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441238061
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

10

Libby enters the house as though she’s on the same rampage as Pablo’s stepfather. I enter behind her and see J.C. in bed, looking innocent in every way. He stares up at the two of us. “Daisy, thank goodness you’re here. Can you grab my pain pills? I thought you weren’t coming back. I should have taken two this morning when you gave me one.”

“Did you call your grandmother yet to change your flight?” Libby asks him.

J.C. nods. “I did. I texted her. I’ll be working at the food bank when I get home to fulfill my requirements, so you don’t need to worry about me. She’s already worked it out with the insurance company. I’m sorry I wasn’t more helpful.”

“Very good,” Libby says without the benefit of compassion, and I’m seriously disliking her at the moment. Not that she was ever my greatest aspiration in terms of people.

“You’re making him go home? I thought he planned to stay through the week.”

“He’s of no use to me like that, set up in the middle of my kitchen, is he? I thought you said the snacks were almost done. Where are they?”

“They’re in the fridge on trays. But J.C.’s hurt. He got hurt helping a little boy who needed to find his way home.”

“Pablo could find his way home from downtown Buenos Aires.”

“Why does he keep running away from home? He’s just a baby.”

Libby narrows her eyes. “How do you know how old he is?”

“Uh, J.C. told me he carried him home. I assumed he was tiny. Plus he was here yesterday morning.” I try to remember if Pablo had been here any other time, but I can’t. Libby doesn’t seem to be looking for trouble, though, so I’m safe.

“Don’t worry about Pablo, you’ve got enough worries with getting all those snacks done in time.”

“They’re done,” I say proudly. “Just a few raisins to plop on.”

She eyes me suspiciously and then shuts the door, leaving J.C. and me alone.

“Do you think she trusts us now? She shut the door.”

“Wait for it.” He stays immobile in bed, and the door thrusts open again.

“Did you forget something?” I ask Libby.

She shakes her head. “Fifteen minutes. No later on the snacks.”

I nod. She leaves the door open this time and heads back to the classroom.

“She hates me.”

“No me gusta Señora Libby.” Pablo crawls out of J.C.’s bed.

“Are you nuts? We’re the ones who are going to get accused of child abuse.”

“Just cover for me.”

“You’re not driving like that! For one thing, you’re on pain meds that could choke a horse. You are not driving anywhere in your condition.”

“You can’t come with me. She’s itching for an excuse to send you back home without your scholarship paperwork, and I’m not sending this kid home again. Not without some answers first.”

I look at Pablo’s forlorn face and my mission becomes clear. “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t get him checked out. But something tells me I’m going to regret this.”

J.C. smiles. “That’s my girl.” He bends down to Pablo’s level and tells him to hide in the cabinet until we’re ready to go.

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