Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 Nikki Lane (books for students to read .TXT) 📖

“Your mom keeps pictures of you and your sister by her nightstand.”

I took a few steps into the room. It was no bigger than a prison cell with bedding to match. I couldn’t imagine having to share this space with a stranger.

“I’m Cynthia, by the way. I just moved in here the day before yesterday. Your mom’s been so nice to me.”

I gazed over the pictures; one was from my high school graduation. There was one of a baby in a Christening outfit. I couldn’t tell if it was Kasey or me.

“Is she here? My mom?”

“She’s outside in the courtyard with your sister. Such a sweet girl.”

I nodded. “Thanks…and it was nice to meet you.”

She gave me a small smile.

The courtyard was nothing more than a cement patio with a few potted plants. Kasey and Mom were sitting on one of the benches, a thick book resting on mom’s lap. Kasey was flipping through the pages. Closer, I could see it was a photo album.

Mom looked up from what they were doing. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

“Maeve,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Kasey didn’t look as happy to see me.

I stopped just a few feet short of the bench and crossed my arms.

“We were just looking at some pictures,” Mom said. “Why don’t you sit with us?”

“I’m not here visiting,” I said. “I’m here to take Kasey home.”

Mom closed the album and set it beside her.

Kasey’s frown deepened, and she slunk back in the seat.

“Come on, Kasey,” I said in a firmer tone.

“I don’t want to go. I want to be with Mom.”

I scoffed. “And what, stay here?” I shook my head. “Get up. We’re leaving.”

Mom looked at Kasey with affection that made my heart ache. “Listen to your sister, honey.”

“But I don’t want to go back to the farm,” she whined.

“You don’t belong here,” I said, stepping a little closer.

“I belong with Mom,” Kasey said.

My frustration was mounting. I didn’t need this—not after the last couple days.

I reached for Kasey’s hand and pulled her up from the bench. “You belong home with Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim.” She resisted me.

“Let go,” she said.

“Maeve,” Mom said. “Please. You’re going to hurt her.”

I dropped Kasey’s arm and looked at Mom. “You know she took two buses to get here? What is wrong with you? Why didn’t you call Aunt Meg?”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I told her what she did was wrong, but I was just so happy to see her. I was just about to call Meg.”

I switched my glare at Kasey. “Something could have happened to you. You know that?” Why was I the one giving her this speech? “You don’t even have your inhaler with you!”

“It’s not like you never ran away from home,” Kasey said.

I let out a heavy sigh. “We’re not talking about me.”

“Don’t fight, girls. Please.”

I grabbed a hold of Kasey’s arm again. “We’re leaving, and she’s never coming back here again.”

Mom’s hand grazed the soft leather of the photo album in her lap. “This is just temporary, Maeve. I’m waiting for an opening in the transitional housing program. Things will be better then.”

“I’m sure,” I said. “Let’s go, Kasey.”

She gave Mom a hug goodbye, and I turned to walk away, ignoring the tears welling in Mom’s eyes.

“Get in the car,” I said to Kasey when we reached the parking lot.

She still hadn’t said a word to me, and I was expecting that to last the whole way back to Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim’s.

“I know this is hard for you to understand,” I said, putting the car in drive. “But that place isn’t where you want to be.”

“Fine,” she said, keeping her stare out of the window.

“Mom can’t take care of you.”

“Then who can, Maeve?” She whipped her head around to look at me. “You never come visit, Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim are too tired, and you won’t let me stay with Mom.”

The desperation in her voice needled at my heart.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been working a lot,” I said. “But I promise you it won’t always be like this. Once I finish school, things will be different.”

She didn’t say anything and turned her head to stare out the window again.

Things would be different, I repeated in my head.

They had to be.

Chapter Twenty-One

I sat in the vet clinic’s waiting room, a panting bulldog near my feet. He licked his muzzle and then nudged my leg. I smiled and gave him a few pats on the head, his prominent underbite making him hard to resist.

“Maeve.”

I looked up to see Jacob on the other side of the door that led to the rest of the clinic. He nodded me over with a smile.

I followed him down the hall, waving hello to the few passing techs. Jacob pulled me into another room and closed the door behind us. Seconds later, he had my body pressed against the wall and his lips greedily covering my face and neck.

“Easy there,” I said, chuckling. “We have an audience.” The far wall was covered in kennels, housing dogs and cats. Some of them pressed their muzzle against the kennel doors, probably hoping for some attention. “Although I do find these scrubs hard to resist.”

“They don’t mind,” Jacob said. He gave me another peck on the lips. “Look over here.”

He pulled away and walked to one of the kennels. “She was a pregnant stray that I found out near the dumpsters.” He opened the door and reached past the gray and white cat sprawled out on the bedding. When he retracted his hand, it held a little ball of fur, the coloring matching its mother’s.

“Oh my goodness,” I squealed. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

Jacob held the kitten up with two hands and examined it. “Girl.”

“Can I hold her?”

He nodded, and I scooped the furball from his hands. It let out a little squeak, its blue eyes probably searching for its mother.

“She’s so soft.” After a few strokes of my hand, I could feel her