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I pull into the small parking lot behind city hall and dial her office on my phone. She picks up in the middle of the second ring.
“Ha
“I’m fine,” I say, killing the engine and getting out of my car. My brow pinches so much I feel the fold of skin between my eyes. “Why are you so worried? I call you all the time.”
“I know. I wasn’t . . . I just . . . I’m glad you’re okay.” She coughs down her overreaction.
It hits me suddenly. I stop midway to her office, just outside her window.
“Is this about Dustin?” I ask pointedly. I turn so I’m square with her window, looking at my own reflection as it outlines her behind the glass. She twists in her chair and our eyes meet. “What, did you think he kidnapped me? Took me off to start a meth lab and make babies out of wedlock?”
She recoils at my hyperbolic questioning.
“Ha
“No. Don’t Ha “It’s Dustin, Ha “Yeah, Mom. It’s Dustin. And even if you don’t trust him, you trust me. You do trust me, don’t you?” There’s a pause that lasts just long enough to dry out my throat. I punch out an offended laugh. “Are you kidding me?” I turn my back to her and head toward my car, sorry I ever tried to make any of this okay. Maybe I should run away with him. I’d be the one kidnapping him, but that’s not how anyone would see it. Their minds are so made up, and they are so wrong. “Ha “Shame on you,” I grit out. Her eyes start to tear right away. Imagine how this must look to anyone in their offices looking out on this tiny parking lot. The mayor’s daughter is making the mayor cry. Hell, in this fucking small-ass town, this outburst might make the news. “He’s been through so much, he doesn’t even know what his life experience has done to him yet. And I worry. Can’t I worry?” She’s begging me. I look down at my palm as I grip the keys in my hand, the teeth digging into my skin, and I chuckle to myself. “Sure, Mom. You can worry. But you should also have some faith. A life like his might just make someone resilient.” I lift my head until our gazes meet and I hold hers through the slight flinch she makes just before the corners of her eyes soften. “I’ll see you at di I climb in my car and pull away, only glancing in the rearview mirror once as I pull out of the city hall lot. She’s still standing where I left her.