Say You Need Me by Carrie Lomax

Author:Carrie Lomax [Lomax, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“How was your trip, sweetie?” Catherine, her mother, folded Janelle into an embrace.

“It was fine.” Florida’s balmy warmth enveloped her, cloying and sticky.

“That’s all you have to say?”

Janelle’s body froze as if she’d been dropped into a plunge pool. “Why do you ask, Mom?”

They were in the car now, the highway an endless asphalt ribbon streaking beneath them.

“You were in Miami all weekend. We didn’t hear from you once. I expected you to check in at least once or twice.”

Janelle closed her eyes. She’d been faking happiness for so long, she hardly knew what it felt like anymore. Until Trent. On her birthday, she’d sworn something big had to change. She’d been willing to do anything—or almost anything, given she’d backed out at the last second—to avoid making the real changes that would make a difference.

“Mom.” She swallowed. “I have a confession to make.”

The story spilled out in fits. Janelle had to back up several times to give her mother the full context. She used Olivia’s name as a proxy for Trent, neatly erasing him from her story. He was hers alone besides which giving her mom one heart attack was enough stress for the day. Pulling the driveway, her mother was ashen.

“Janie, honey. I wish you’d told us. I wish you’d come to me for help before flying off to do something so dangerous. What if he’d assaulted you? Or killed you?”

“I’ve thought the same thing a million times.”

“Go unpack and relax. You didn’t get into this pickle overnight, and you won’t get out overnight, either.” She paused. “I’m pouring a glass of wine. Do you want one?”

“Thanks, Mom. For listening.” Even if her parents had been dismissive of her financial problems before, Janelle knew that half the reason had been her own bad attitude. She threw her clothes in the washing machine and set her toiletries on the bathroom counter. While the washer was working, Janie made herself a sandwich and ate it while printing out every account she had. Tomorrow she had to go back to the coffee shop and the warehouse, and this evening she needed the distraction from thinking about Trent.

Two months ago, before she’d left with Marc, Alyssa had tried to make Janelle sit down and get a handle on her finances. Janie cringed to remember how she’d thrown up her hands in frustration and given up. It had seemed so hopeless. The debt was huge. She’d been so locked into the idea of paying it off that she’d been too scared to consider other options.

Janelle wasn’t scared anymore.

“You’re diving right in, I see.” Catherine pulled out a kitchen chair. She picked up a statement and released a slow whistle. “Janie, why didn’t you tell us how much student debt you had?”

“I was ashamed, Mom. I told you it was a lot, but I was too scared to show you exactly how much it was.”

Catherine placed her glasses on the wood table. “Janie, we wanted you to learn how to live as a responsible adult.

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