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"This is normal I know the deputy at the station I’ll pick her up and bring her hoht s slightly

"Sadly, no This will be the fourth ti to Portland that I’ve had to pick her up from a police station"

"And the deputy just calls you?"

"Yep"

I recall Seth taking phone calls before once on the night he refused to have sex with ht ent out for dinner He had to leave in a hurry I feel sorry for hi on in his life to pick up his drunken ht

I follow closely behind hie house and out the front door Seth doesn’t speak the whole way to the police station When I look at hiainst itself

"Why do you put up with it?" I question hih his hair "I feel like I owe it to her, I guess I wasn’t the greatest kid"

His words upset me He’s still the son, not the parent Hiscare of the finances and the house Not Seth

We roll up in front of the Police Station and we cli, just a sers entithbeside him Inside, the station smells of beer and hospital cleaner A few tired people litter the waiting rooht up to the service desk

"Hey Seth," The officer extends his hand to Seth and he takes it "Your mom is et her home then"

"No problem She’s been asleep for the last hour"

The officer steps out froestures for Seth to follow him He turns to me "Wait here, okay?"

I nod

Seth and the officer disappear around the corner, leaving me alone I’m uncomfortable I’ve never been inside a police station before and hopefully I never have to again I don’t like feeling like I’ve done soet nervous when I walk past a police officer in the mall or in the street I’the same outfit I saw her in this afternoon She has traded the dress suit for a pair of black slacks, a pretty purple silk top and a pair of killer violet heels Her long, black hair cascades over Seth’s ar his head toward the exit sign I follow closely behind and I open the back door for him so he can lay his et back to Seth’s house He was going under the speed li his mother It didn’t matter Once we pull into the driveway and the car turns off, his mom speaks

"Sethy?" She whispers "Did you have to pick ain?"

My heart ine she’s been calling him that since the day he was born I look at Seth His face is stormy and frustrated

"Yes" He replies His tone is cold and lacking any empathy

"I’rao this ti He opens the back door and extends his hand to his mom I open my own door and slide out When I walk over to the other side, his mother is already halfway out of the car

She smiles drunkenly atincreasingly frustrated

"Seth, it’s okay" I ht"

His mom looks up at him as she slides the rest of her body out of the car Seth wraps an arht like she’s no heavier than a child She turns back to estures to her face and body "I’m not usually like this"

Seth’s expression darkens and he shakes his head He’s an expert at holding his tongue He is yet to say soet you to bed" He says, pulling her toward the house When we go inside, I linger along behind theo inside I’ve invaded enough personal space for tonight I lean against the wall by the door fra of a cute ba on ht"

His voice coot to the doors and I couldn’t go in I panicked I didn’t want to admit that I’ve been such a failure"

I strain o toht"

Seth steps out of the rooive hi I don’t want hile in close as alk towards his room When we’re inside and tucked back into bed, he pulls me into his bare chest

"I hope that was okay for you" He mutters inabout lad she is home and safe"

His hands squeeze me as he settles his head closer to ain "Olivia" He als it in a happy tune "You have work"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>