Tormented Love: A Christian Romance (The True Love Series Book 3) by Duncan Juliette

Author:Duncan, Juliette [Duncan, Juliette]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-10-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

"Hey Jayden, did you hear?" Roger ambled down the hallway chewing gum. Jayden closed the door of the apartment and fell into step.

"Hear what?" Jayden stifled a yawn. Last night he’d emptied all of Kathryn’s bottles down the sink in a desperate effort to stop her drinking, but it had backfired. She’d caught him red-handed and yelled at him and they’d argued long into the night. She stomped out sometime around three to buy more alcohol and hadn’t returned. Something must have happened to her. But he almost didn’t care. He probably should have gone looking just in case, but then he’d be late for school. Besides, where would he start looking?

"The bus drivers all went on strike."

Jayden cocked his head, drawing his eyebrows together. "Strike? Why?

"Dunno, guess they want more money. They're off for the whole week, which means no bus to school."

Jayden shrugged. "No big deal. I don't mind walking."

When they reached the front of the apartment complex, rain pelted down on the double glass doors. The sound was deafening.

"Still don't mind walking?" Roger raised his eyebrows and shot Jayden a teasing grin. "It's a good thing Mom agreed to drive me. You can ride with us, but you'll have to get your mom to pick you up. I’ve got a dentist visit this afternoon." Roger pulled the hood of his jacket over his head and darted outside to his mom's waiting car. Jayden followed suit.

The rain didn’t let up all day. When the school bell rang that afternoon and Jayden joined the mob of students peering out at the driving rain, he decided to call Mum. Throughout the day he’d wondered if she’d made it home okay, but now his heart raced as her phone sent him to voice mail for the third time. What if something had happened to her? He should have gone looking. Dread settled in his stomach like a lead balloon. Where was she? He punched her number again.

"Hello?" Mum’s voice was croaky and slurred.

Jayden breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mum, it's me. Where’ve you been?”

“Just asleep. Why?”

“The bus drivers are on strike and it’s pouring with rain. Can you pick me up?"

"Sure, I'll come.” She yawned. “Give me twenty minutes."

"Thanks." At least she wasn't still angry with him. He hadn't meant to upset her, just wake her up to what she was doing. Her drinking was turning into a major problem.

Jayden leaned against a wall and waited. Every few minutes he checked the time. Twenty minutes turned into an hour, and Mum still wasn’t there. His heart sank. All the other students had already gone, picked up by responsible parents who’d come on time. The school parking lot was empty except for one lone car.

One of the side doors to the school building opened and the janitor walked out. An aged man with a balding head, he walked slowly with a slight limp. Jayden had seen him around, cleaning the classrooms and hallways.

"Excuse me, son." The janitor stopped beside Jayden and spoke in a slow Texan drawl.

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