Wrapped Around Her Finger

LL

action. She grabs the napkins from the

ile Julia works to salvage the table and my digni

moment before s

el

r voice announces, followed by the muffled sound of som

phone and my number. He c

hrough the line. "Thanks for sending the money," he grum

jaw. He's

lcome," I

fter now but with an edge I've known all my life. "Cal

g through the front door, bottles in hand; my mom pleading with him as he scr

ne colder than I intend

Your father's debts aren't even close to paid off, and you

y way I can," I snap

't you?" she says bitterly. "You've always

y sharply, cutting her of

ent dripping from her words. "But don't forget w

left staring at the screen

a's voice breaks

apkins now discarded. She's perched on th

I lie, for

e counter, grabbing her purse. "I'm going to work now and I will grab grocer

y, my mind st

or. "I'll be back in a bit. Try not

t the ceiling. I wish it were already Monday so I could throw myself into work. Fridays and

-

resh vegetables and spices fills t

knows I hate but says anyway. "Help me with this. It

hmic chopping of onions and peppers, the bubbling of

stirring the pot. "You've never da

first moved here, two years ago. We met through one a former classmate

y? You're gorgeous, smart, and have t

g. "I just never felt the need. P

se you're too hard on them.

ut I'm not se

all smile tugging at her

're the one who stayed with a guy

, and I instantly

s quietly, stirring the pot a

d on her shoulder. "I'm so

a forced smile. "We all make mistakes, rig

-

before us, and Julia sug

siasm infectious. "You need some su

and seashell jewelry. Bandanas keep our hair out of our faces as

nd seagulls cawing overhead. We find a spot near the sh

away the stress of the past few days. Julia and I splash each o

pineapple from a nearby vendor. The juice drips down

" Julia says,

the sun soak into me. For the first time in

ver the sandy paths, the breeze tugging at the bandanas tied around our

lia suddenly brakes hard, near

to say, but then I s

in the middle of the road. Its orange fur is matted and

ing off her bike and crouching d

" I say, wrin

scooping the kitten up. It lets out a tiny

, already seeing w

en against her chest. "It's all alone

ge of my nose. "Fine. But

p like a trophy. "You hear that,

soft meow, and despite mysel

-

so often, it pokes its head up, blinking at the world around it. Julia insists on buyi

ard," I tell her as

od for my baby,"

it gently in the sink while I rinse the grime from its fur. It squirms and m

t orange now, and its gre

lia announces aft

ryly. "What are

brow furrowed in concentrat

in," s

es but can't

-

e sit on the couch, watching a movie. I'm halfwa

ing Pumpkin up to my

rudgingly, scratching b

irks, sa

he city lights twinkle against the dark sky, an