Seaside Dances_A Sweet Romance Page 7

  Jasmine threw all the groceries into the fridge and cabinets, not even caring if she broke something. She'd probably have to buy more the next day if her mom decided to stay, anyway.

  She wanted to call her dad and find out what was going on, but she didn't even have their number anymore. She'd heard through the grapevine that they'd moved a couple times since she'd graduated—probably evicted for not paying rent or for trashing the place. Or maybe both.

  Pacing, Jasmine thought about what she would say to her mom when she returned. She had many choice words, but wasn't sure what the best way to handle it was. Start out nice and then get mean? Or just jump right into how she felt? Part of her wanted to lay her mom out for everything she'd done over the years.

  She had ruined so many lives, but she probably didn't even realize it. She never had before. Why should she start now? Jasmine paced more furiously.

  Kate walked in and her eyes widened, watching Jasmine pace. "Is everything okay?"

  "Does it look like it?" Jasmine snapped.

  "That would be negative. Want to talk about it?"

  "No," Jasmine fumed. "I need to take it out on my mom."

  "What's her deal? Was she drunk or something?" Kate asked. "She acted like she had a hangover this morning."

  "Oh?" Jasmine asked. "She was actually awake in the morning hours? Why? So she could get an early start drinking?"

  "I take it this isn't something new with her?" Kate asked.

  "That would be correct."

  "I always wondered why you never talk about your family."

  Jasmine scowled. "Nothing to talk about." Jasmine continued pacing. "I need to kick her out."

  "Maybe she needs help."

  Jasmine laughed bitterly. "She doesn't want any. Trust me."

  "What if she doesn't have anywhere to stay?" Kate asked. "Is that why she's here?"

  "Not my problem. She's always relied on me, even when I was way too young for it. She's the most irresponsible parent on earth. Right next to my dad. When I was in high school, I worked, but I never got to see any of that money. No. It went straight into the rent. In fact, we were living in such pitiful housing that my lame part time job paid the entire rent each month." Jasmine didn't know why she was going off like that, but it felt good.

  Kate raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's time you guys talk it out."

  "Oh, I intend to." Jasmine's eyebrows came together.

  "Where is she now?" Kate asked.

  "Probably at the nearest bar."

  "Have you called your dad?" Kate asked.

  Jasmine laughed. "It's bad enough that I have one of them to deal with. I'm not opening another can of worms. There's enough crazy here to last me a lifetime."

  "I have a date for dinner. Do you want me to cancel so I can give you moral support?"

  "You'd do that?" Jasmine stopped pacing.

  "Of course." Kate frowned. "I can see how much this is upsetting you. I'll provide backup. She might think she can boss you around because she's your mom, but she won't dare mess with me. I'll have her in tears first."

  Jasmine couldn't help smiling. "I appreciate that. Really, I do. But I don't want you here to witness it. It's not going to be pretty. She's going to wish she crashed somewhere else."

  Kate stared at her, appearing deep in thought. "If you're sure. I don't mind sticking around, and I promise not to think less of you—if that's what you're worried about. Sometimes you just need a friend."

  "She might not even come back tonight. Bars stay open until, what? Well after midnight?"

  "Two or three, usually."

  Jasmine shook her head. "Then she'll be drunk out of her mind, and that won't be the time to attempt a conversation. I may have to call in sick tomorrow just so I can deal with this.

  "You haven't had to miss a day of your internship yet. Are you sure?"

  "Once again, I have to put my life on hold because of her. Not only on hold, but put my job in jeopardy."

  "I'd hardly call missing one day putting your internship on the line."

  Jasmine paced again. "You're right. In fact, she won't even be up by then. I'll have to cancel my lunch date and come here to let her have it."

  Kate frowned. "Want me to give it to her? Maybe it'll have more of an impact from an outsider."

  "No, it's my job." Anger bubbled in Jasmine's stomach. She wanted to hit something, but she'd have to wait to let her anger loose until her mom showed up… whenever that would be. "Get ready for your date. I have a book to read, anyway. I'd rather focus on that than this. She's not worth my time or energy."

  "If I see her in the morning, awake, do you want me to ask her what's going on?" Kate asked. "Maybe she'll tell me. She might know how you feel about her and not listen."

  "She has no idea how I really feel—otherwise she wouldn't have even thought about showing her face here." Jasmine picked up her purse and without another word went into her room. She appreciated Kate's support, but she needed to be alone—desperately.

  Jasmine paced for a bit before plunking down on the bed. She took several deep breaths, but didn't find it helped any. She tried breathing even deeper, but was too upset to manage anything other than shallow ones.

  She pulled out her tablet and opened the app to read Zachary's novel. Her mind raced as she started reading, and she had to re-read the first paragraph three times before giving up. There was no way she could focus. At least not in this state of mind.

  All thanks to her mom. She only had to show up, and magically—tragically—everything in Jasmine's life was ruined once again. Just like it always had been.

  Jasmine picked up a pillow and threw it against the wall. Magical powers, indeed. She leaned against her remaining pillow and closed her eyes, trying to relax. It wasn't easy—a lot of old, forgotten memories surfaced. All kinds of fights and arguments, broken possessions, crushed dreams, and ruined lives.

  Every memory of her brother sliced at her heart. She and Carter had spent so much time fighting themselves, having learned nothing else from their parents. But despite that, they had been tight, sticking up for each other both at home and school. They tended to get picked on because they would show up at school with dirty, torn clothes and messy hair—even sometimes when they were old enough to take care of that stuff themselves.

  There had been too many days when the bus would show up when they had no time to run a brush through their hair after waking up to a soul-crushing fight between their parents, who shouted horrible names at each other. And sometimes the kids.

  It made her feel like a helpless kid again, just thinking about it. Instead of being in her room, she was brought back to the cramped, smoky trailer with dark green, stained carpeting. Her dad lay on the torn couch, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Her mom let out a string of profanities from the kitchen. The smell of burnt food filled the room.

  "Did you burn dinner again, woman?" her dad shouted.

  "It's your fault, you lazy bum! You didn't clean your chewing tobacco off the stove. That's what burned."

  "You blaming this on me? Don't go there. You'll regret it."

  She came into the living room and threw a potholder at him. "Don't threaten me, you poor excuse for a man." Then she called him several more colorful names.

  Carter dropped the toy train he was playing with against the wall. Jasmine watched his eyes widen as their gazes connected. He gestured for her to go back to their bedroom. It was his turn to deal with them, which meant she got to hide in the closet this time.

  Without a word, Jasmine bolted past him and into their room. She climbed over her bed and opened the closet, closing it as quietly as she could. The foul words and name calling was so loud, she covered her ears and pressed herself as far back against the wall as she could.

  Jasmine bumped into a stuffed dog. It was Carter's, but she held it tight, anyway. She sang a song from dance class, trying not to think about what was going on out in the living room. Sometimes pretending helped.

 
Glass broke. Jasmine jumped and squeezed the toy closer. Something crashed into a wall, and then Carter's sobs could be heard. He called someone horrible names. Then he let out a horrible wail that brought tears to Jasmine's eyes. She couldn't stay in her room—not this time.

  She scrambled out, leaving the dog on her bed and ran into the living room. A large mirror that had been on the wall now lay in several pieces on the floor. Her mom had a welt near her eye. Carter was in their dad's hold, tears streaming down his face.

  Jasmine ran for her brother, screaming. She pulled on him with all her might, and Dad was so drunk, he couldn't keep his hold. Jasmine dragged her older brother out the front door. They ran down the lane, huffing and puffing before long. Eventually, they came to an empty trailer that the kids often played in because the front door was broken.

  "We'll stay in here until they pass out," Carter said. "We'll be okay. I promise."

  A noise in the hallway brought Jasmine back to the present. She kicked her feet—she didn't want to think about any of this. It was in the past—where it needed to stay. There wasn't anything she could do about any of it. It had happened, and it was over. Her parents had been drunk jerks, and her brother was dead.

  Jasmine wished it had been her parents in the car that night instead of him. Tears streamed down her face as she fell into a fitful sleep.

  Eleven

  Jasmine woke to the smell of smoke. It was an all-too familiar scent, having filled her house growing up. Her parents had always sucked on various types of cigarettes between sipping alcohol. But this was different—it wasn't that kind of smoke.

  The fire alarm went off, and she sat up. The noise wailed, hurting her ears. She looked around, seeing smoke coming from underneath the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat. She heard Kate screaming from somewhere in the condo.

  Jasmine raced out of bed and ran to the door, opening it. The handle was warm to the touch and her heart sank. Smoke hit her in the face and she covered her mouth and nose with her arms, coughing. She ducked as she ran down the hall.

  In the living room, she saw flames engulfing the couch and spreading toward the wall nearest her.

  Her mom.

  Jasmine rushed to the couch, not seeing her.

  "Out here," Kate called from the hallway.

  She ran out, finding Kate with her mom on the floor. Her mom looked around confused.

  "Did you do this?" Jasmine shouted. "Get up! We have to get out of here."

  "I had to drag her out here," Kate said.

  Jasmine glared at her mom. "Why bother?"

  "Get me to a hospital," her mom moaned.

  "I think her arm's burned," Kate said. "She didn't wake until I pulled her off the couch."

  "When are you going to get a clue?" Jasmine yelled. "Look at what you've done! You've started another fire. Will you never learn?"

  Kate put her hands under Jasmine's mom's arms. "Grab her feet. We've got to get her downstairs."

  Flames shot out of the condo, coming close to them.

  Jasmine grabbed her mom's legs and headed for the stairs. Sirens wailed outside. They made it down the two flights of stairs and outside, where a crowd gathered, all in their pajamas. Jasmine and her mom were the only ones in regular clothes. Apparently, Jasmine had forgotten to change before lying down.

  Medics ran over to them. "Are you ladies okay?" asked one.

  "She's burned." Jasmine indicated toward her mom.

  "I thought I put the cigarette out," she moaned.

  "Looks like we know the cause of the fire." He shook his head and then turned to another medic. "Go get a stretcher."

  Everything happened in a blur as her mom was loaded into the ambulance and all the other residents crowded around.

  "Do you want to come with?" asked a medic.

  Jasmine shook her head. "I don't want to get in your way. I'll go down later, after she's been taken care of." She backed up and stood with Kate as they watched the firefighters put out the blaze.

  "I can't believe our condo went up in flames," Kate said, leaning against Jasmine. "All our stuff."

  "Unfortunately, this isn't a first," Jasmine muttered.

  "What are we going to do?" Kate asked.

  Jasmine felt moisture on her shoulder. She wrapped an arm around her friend. "It'll be okay. Somehow."

  Kate sniffed. "All my stuff."

  "Mine, too." Jasmine shook her head. "Did we opt in for renters insurance? Do you remember?"

  "I think it was required," Kate said.

  "At least we have that."

  "You know what?" Kate asked. "Did you notice the smoke detectors in our place didn't go off?"

  Jasmine nodded. "It was the smoke that woke me. The alarm went off later."

  Kate lifted her head. "Right. The ones in the hallway. Shouldn't the owners have been in charge of that? I bet we could sue. Get more than just our stuff replaced."

  "They would turn around and sue us," Jasmine said. "We agreed to no smoking inside."

  "But your mom didn't, and she's the one who caused this."

  "And we're the ones who let her in." Jasmine ran her fingers through her hair. "We won't have a leg to stand on." Why had she let her mom in the door? Why? She should have known it could only end up in tragedy. She hoped no one else ended up hurt from the flames or the smoke, or Jasmine would be to blame. She should have known better than to let her mom stay. When she'd buzzed the condo the other night, she should have had Kate lie and say she didn't know her.

  Jasmine ran her hands down her side and felt something in her pocket. Her phone. She pulled it out, surprised to have even one of her possessions.

  "If you need me, I'll be over there." Jasmine pointed to an area where no one stood.

  Kate nodded, watching the firefighters.

  Jasmine turned on the screen and did a quick online search to find her dad. It was easy enough because they never paid the fees to be unlisted—unlike Jasmine always did.

  "Hello?" asked her dad, his voice slurring.

  "Do you know where Mom is?" Jasmine demanded.

  "Jas? Is that you?" His words continued to garble.

  "It sure isn't Carter, now is it?" she snapped.

  "Where are you?" he asked.

  "I asked you a question. Do you know where Mom is?"

  "Uh… no. Want me to leave her a message?" he asked. Paper rustled in the background.

  "No, actually, I don't. She's in the hospital."

  "What? Where?" he asked.

  "Did you even notice she was gone?" Jasmine asked. "This is the second night she's been on my couch, but the first that she set it on fire. The whole building, in fact. A lot of people have to find somewhere else to live thanks to her."

  He let loose a long string of profanities. "Do I gotta come and get that woman?"

  "Don't bother. You'd probably just kill an innocent bystander."

  "What hospital?" he asked.

  "Wouldn't you like to know?" Jasmine asked. "I'll tell you when you've sobered up."

  "Sober? That could take—"

  "A lifetime. Probably longer in your case. Just get the alcohol out of your system, and we'll talk later."

  "She's been gone two nights, you said?" he asked.

  "Quick as lightning, huh, Dad? Typical. Bye."

  "Wait. What's your number? How can I—?"

  "Still don't have caller ID?" Jasmine shook her head. Like that was a big shock. "I'll be in touch." She ended the call before he could engage her again.

  She went back over to Kate, who had a tear-stained face.

  "They got the fire out." Kate sniffed. "But they aren't letting anyone back in until they inspect the building. They don't know the extent of the damage, but my guess is all of our stuff is toast. Literally." Tears ran down Kate's face.

  Jasmine hugged her, wishing she could find it in her to cry. But she'd cried a lifetime's worth of tears growing up. She rubbed her friend's back. "I'm really sorry, Kate. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let her in."
<
br />   "No, it's her fault. I told her she couldn't smoke, but she did it, anyway. You and me, we did all we could. I know you cleaned up after her and replaced the food she ate."

  Anger rose again in Jasmine's chest. "You told her not to smoke? I hope they lock her away for life."

  Kate stepped back, wiping her eyes. "Who'd you call over there? That guy you've been seeing?"

  Jasmine shook her head. "My dad. He didn't even know she'd left."

  Kate's eyes widened. "Seriously? But she's been here two days."

  "And it probably took her a day or more to get here." Jasmine scowled.

  "I can't believe you came from a family like that." Kate shook her head.

  "That's the best compliment anyone could pay me," Jasmine said. "I've worked hard to stop the cycle of stupidity and actually do something with my life."

  "I admire your work ethic even more now." Kate pulled some hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears.

  "You admire me?" Jasmine asked, surprised.

  "Why do you think I hang around you?" Kate asked. "I need some of your responsibility to rub off on me. I think it has. Don't you?"

  Jasmine couldn't help yawning. "Where are we going to sleep tonight?"

  "I heard people saying that there's some kind of shelter in a high school gym or something."

  Hot, angry tears filled Jasmine's eyes. "None of this should have happened. All these people should be sleeping in their beds." She really did wish that her parents had perished rather than Carter that horrible night.

  Kate put an arm around Jasmine. "Like you said, it's all going to be okay."

  "Okay?" Jasmine asked, staring at the building. "I was wrong. All these people are out of a home."

  "Ninety percent are here temporarily, like us. Tourists and summer renters."

  "And the other ten?" Jasmine asked. She wanted to shake her mom.

  "Without a home now." Kate frowned.

  A couple police officers came over and said they needed to question everyone. Jasmine's stomach dropped to the ground, and she exchanged a look with her roommate. Kate nodded and then so did Jasmine. They would tell them everything.

  Jasmine and Kate each went with a different cop, and Jasmine told him everything from her mom showing up uninvited to the empty bottles. She explained how Kate had told her not to smoke, but that she had, anyway, after she'd gone to bed. Then she made sure to mention how the smoke alarm inside the condo hadn't gone off.