Chapter 9 September 19th 2025

“Here’s your money back dear,” Carla said, handing Lucy some folded bills, which she quickly pocketed. Lucy sat down on her front porch with her Mom, Carla, who lit her cigarette and took a deep pull. She could hear her Dad flipping through TV stations in the house. “Your cousin Elle invited you to her baby shower,” she said.

Lucy rolled her eyes, “Awesome.” She watched her Mom exhale smoke. She used to smoke. She started smoking at 19, right about the time she started dating Darren. Quitting took 3 attempts, but she hadn’t touched a cigarette in years. She raised her vape to her mouth and took a draw of highly processed flavored cannabis oil, which, to her, was definitely not smoking.

“You don’t have to go of course, or even buy a present if you want,” Carla said.

Lucy smiled a fake angry smile, “How many is this three, four? We sure have one fertile family, well all but me,” Lucy said.

Carla grinned, “Sorry I brought it up. Oh yeah, something else you won’t like. We’re having a revival next Month, around Halloween. Real old fashioned tent revival, lots of spirit. You should try to come,” she said.

Lucy took another puff of her vape, “Yeah, you know I don’t go to church.”

“I know honey, but just keep it in mind,” her Mom said and soon she pried her Dad off the couch and they were gone.

Lucy picked up the barely touched can of soda she’d got for her Mom and grumbled. “Every time.” She dumped the liquid into the bushes.

“Why am I like this?” she asked her hibiscus tree. It didn’t answer, but Lucy answered it in her thoughts. ‘ I’m a bitch because the world made me one. You’d think that I could get one thing in this world. A career, nope. A great love life, nope. A baby, nope. A good family, nope. I don’t even have a fucking passport.’

Her phone buzzed a text message.

Chrissy: Hi, are you home?

She hadn’t seen that name in a couple of years. It was her brother’s first wife. Lucy and Darren had spent many holidays with her brother’s family and for a short time they were friends, until she got to know her better. Lucy didn’t mind at all when they divorced.

Lucy: Yeah, what’s up?

Chrissy: Is Whit there?

Lucy: NO, he’s working.

Chrissy: Be right there.

Five minutes later she parked her car in Lucy’s driveway and walked up, she’d lost weight, alot of weight. Ozempic, Lucy thought.

Lucy met her in the driveway, blocking the steps. “Hi Chrissy, I’m…”

Chrissy cut her off with a wave of her hand. “Hey look I struggled about telling you this, but I feel like you need to know.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Last night I was out late at John’s and Whit came in with a girl who looked like she could be in high school. He didn't see me.”

Lucy frowned trying to push down the anger she felt for this woman, “You know Whit teachers painting classes, that was one of his students. He told me that some of them went to eat after class. You need to mind your own business.”

Chrissy leaned in closer, “OK.. Well it was just him and her, and it got weird. Whit left upset, and then sat in her truck with her for a while. They way they were talking... I’m sorry, but it really looked like something was going on between them and I thought you should know.”

Lucy turned and looked at her house and fought back a tear, then she turned back to the woman. She considered it, and shook her head. Whit was not having an affair with the transgender kid from Wal-Mart, it’s impossible, she thought. “You were always a bitch you know that,” Lucy said.

Chrissy smiled, took a step back and raised her hands palms out, “OK, OK, sorry. If you don't give a shit what your fruitcake husband is doing it’s none of my business.” She backed away.

Chrissy followed her to the door of her car, “You’re right, it’s none of your business.”

Chrissy’s curls bounced as she dropped down into her Ford Mustang. “Good luck,” she said and then flipped Lucy off as she took off.

Lucy sat back down and took another puff from her vape. She wanted a drink so bad that her hand started shaking.