Page 68 of Echoes of Eternity
“Same here.”
Pulling into the apartment complex a few moments later, Ryan parked in one of the stalls near the steps leading up to the apartment. He turned to Jason.
“Listen, it’s not pretty in there. Don’t be rude.”
“Why are you coaching me?” Jason shook his head. “What are you worried about?”
“I just don’t want things to get weird.”
“Well, we’re far beyond weird already. I’m going to meet my dead father’s mistress from fifteen years ago and my half-sister I never knew about.”
“True.”
When Tiffany opened the door to the apartment, Ryan noticed a gash on her forehead.
“What happened to your head?” he inquired as she let him and Jason inside. She ignored the question as they took seats on the couch.
Linda came in from the kitchen.
“She was with that rowdy girl Athena again. They were running from the cops after tagging a gas station two nights ago.”
“It’s art, Mom!” Tiffany folded her arms and sat on one of the recliners.
Linda shook hands with Jason. “I’m Linda.”
“I’m Jason.”
She sat down on the armrest of the recliner where Tiffany was sitting.
Ryan noticed Jason’s eyes jumping around the room to the various items that concerned him too on his prior visit. The past due bills on the coffee table along with the trash, and then his least favorite—a picture of their much younger father on the wall with Linda.
Jason rubbed his hands together and then opened them.
“So, tell me about yourselves. Where do you work, Linda? What do you love in school, Tiffany?”
“Across the street at the diner up until yesterday. That jerk Garrett cut my hours to zero.” Linda looked as if she were about to cry. She shook her head and covered her mouth. “Sorry. I don’t mean to get emotional.”
Jason frowned and shook his head. “It’s okay. I’d be upset too.” His eyes fell over to Tiffany. “And school?”
“Good.”
Linda smacked her shoulder. “Remember what I said about one-word responses? It’s rude.”
“What do you want, Mom?” Tiffany looked up at her. “School is school. Boring.”
“Any subjects you enjoy?” Jason lifted an eyebrow.
Tiffany stood up. “No. School is the least important part of my life right now. Hey. It was nice meeting you and all, but I have to go meet with some friends.”
As she walked toward the door, Linda jumped from the armrest on the recliner. “You’re not leaving.”
Opening the apartment door, Tiffany turned and looked over her shoulder. “Watch me.”
She exited.
Linda cursed and chased after her outside, leaving Ryan and Jason on the couch in the apartment and in an awkward situation.
“We must’ve caught them at a bad time.” Jason’s comment brought laughter to Ryan’s lips.