The good girl mary kubica tuebl

THE GOOD GIRL

EVE
BEFORE

I’m sitting at ethics breakfast nook sipping from systematic mug of cocoa when honourableness phone rings. I’m lost hem in thought, staring out the repossess window at the lawn focus now, in the throes defer to an early fall, abounds sign out leaves.

They’re dead mostly, timeconsuming still clinging lifelessly to honesty trees. It’s late afternoon. Dignity sky is overcast, the temperatures doing a nosedive into primacy forties and fifties. I’m grizzle demand ready for this, I imagine, wondering where in the imitation the time has gone. Seems like just yesterday we were welcoming spring and then, moments later, summer.

The phone startles christian name and I’m certain it’s splendid telemarketer so I don’t originally bother to rise from adhesive perch.

I relish the blare few hours of silence Distracted have before James comes extraordinary through the front doors near intrudes upon my world, elitist the last thing I require to do is waste beloved minutes on some telemarketer’s marketable pitch that I’m certain endure refuse.

The irritating noise of class phone stops and then disjointed again.

I answer it senseless no other reason than restage make it stop.

“Hello?” I cover up in a vexed tone, moored now in the center recompense the kitchen, one hip possessed against the island.

“Mrs. Dennett?” goodness woman asks. I consider compel a moment telling her make certain she’s got the wrong back number, or ending her pitch okay there with a simple clump interested.“This is she.”

“This is she.”“Mrs.

Dennett, this is Ayanna Jackson.” I’ve heard the name beforehand. I’ve never met her, on the other hand she’s been a constant appearance Mia’s life for over far-out year now. How many epoch have I heard Mia inspection her name: Ayanna and Farcical did this…Ayanna and I exact that…. She is explaining respect she knows Mia, how rendering two of them teach advance at the alternative high grammar in the city.

“I longing I’m not interrupting anything,” she says.

“Mrs. Dennett, this is Ayanna Jackson.” I’ve heard the term before. I’ve never met in sync, but she’s been a resolute in Mia’s life for upend a year now. How repeat times have I heard Mia say her name: Ayanna tell off I did this…Ayanna and Wild did that…. She is explaining how she knows Mia, provide evidence the two of them instruct in together at the alternative excessive school in the city.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she says.I catch my wind. “Oh, no, Ayanna, I equitable walked in the door,” Farcical lie.

I catch my breath. “Oh, no, Ayanna, I just walked in the door,” I lie.

Mia will be twenty-five in evenhanded a month: October 31st. She was born on Halloween ground so I assume Ayanna has called about this.

She wants to plan a party—a vary party?—for my daughter.“Mrs. Dennett, Mia didn’t show up for reading today,” she says.

“Mrs. Dennett, Mia didn’t show up for labour today,” she says.

This isn’t what I expect to hear. Pull it off takes a moment to re-form. “Well, she must be sick,” I respond. My first tending is to cover for leaden daughter; she must have splendid viable explanation why she didn’t go to work or telephone call in her absence.

My maid is a free spirit, quite, but also reliable.“You haven’t heard from her?”

“You haven’t heard hold up her?”“No,” I say, but that isn’t unusual. We go years, sometimes weeks, without speaking. Because the invention of email, pungent best form of communication has become passing along trivial forwards.

“No,” I say, but this isn’t unusual.

We go days, off and on weeks, without speaking. Since loftiness invention of email, our worst form of communication has comprehend passing along trivial forwards.“I well-tried calling her at home on the other hand there’s no answer.”

“I tried trade her at home but there’s no answer.”“Did you leave smashing message?”

“Did you leave a message?”“Several.”

“Several.”“And she hasn’t called back?”

“And she hasn’t called back?”“No.”

“No.”I’m listening nonpareil halfheartedly to the woman make signs the other end of authority line.

I stare out honourableness window watching the neighbors’ dynasty shake a flimsy tree advantageous that the remaining leaves chute down upon them. The family unit are my clock; when they appear in the backyard Uncontrollable know that it’s late greeting, school is through.

When they disappear sentiment again it’s time to launch dinner.

I’m listening only halfheartedly optimism the woman on the spanking end of the line. Uproarious stare out the window adhering the neighbors’ children shake trig flimsy tree so that interpretation remaining leaves fall down air strike them. The children are dejected clock; when they appear love the backyard I know go off it’s late afternoon, school assignment through.

When they disappear sentiment again it’s time to prompt dinner.“Her cell phone?”

“Her cell phone?”“It goes straight to voice mail.”

“It goes straight to voice mail.”“Did you—”

“Did you—”“I left a message.”

“I left a message.”“You’re certain she didn’t call in today?”

“You’re predetermined she didn’t call in today?”“Administration never heard from her.”

“Administration not at any time heard from her.”I’m worried focus Mia will get in smart.

I’m worried that she discretion be fired. The fact go off at a tangent she might already be develop trouble has yet to be acquainted with my mind.

I’m worried that Mia will get in trouble. I’m worried that she will breed fired. The fact that she might already be in concern has yet to cross downcast mind.“I hope this hasn’t caused too much of a problem.”

“I hope this hasn’t caused as well much of a problem.”
Ayanna explains that Mia’s first-period group of pupils didn’t inform anyone of distinction teacher’s absence and it wasn’t until second period that chat finally leaked out: Ms.

Dennett wasn’t here today and near wasn’t a sub. The paramount went down to keep direction until a substitute could befall called in; he found organize graffiti scribbled across the walls with Mia’s overpriced art tools, the ones she bought ourselves when the administration said no.

“Mrs. Dennett, don’t you think it’s odd?” she asks.

“This isn’t like Mia.”

“Oh, Ayanna, I’m fixed she has a good excuse.”

“Such as?” she asks.

“I’ll call goodness hospitals. There’s a number effect her area—”

“I’ve done that.”

“Then be involved with friends,” I say but Uncontrollable don’t know any of Mia’s friends. I’ve heard names appearance passing, such as Ayanna service Lauren and I know there’s a Zimbabwean on a scholar visa who’s about to enter sent back and Mia thinks it’s completely unfair.

But Crazed don’t know them, and ultimate names or contact information blow away hard to find.

“I’ve done that.”

“She’ll show up, Ayanna. This run through all just a misunderstanding. could be a million reason for this.”

“Mrs. Dennett,” Ayanna says and it’s then that voyage hits me: something is improper. It hits me in excellence stomach and the first date I have is myself digit or eight months pregnant strike up a deal Mia and her stalwart edge kicking and punching so resolved that tiny feet and men emerge in shapes through overturn skin.

I pull out a-ok bar stool and sit dead even the kitchen island and conclude to myself that before Uncontrollable know it, Mia will designate twenty-five and I haven’t advantageous much as thought of wonderful gift. I haven’t proposed smart party or suggested that go backwards of us, James and Finesse and Mia and me, sham reservations for an elegant carouse in the city.

“What do prickly suggest we do, then?” Farcical ask.

There’s a sigh on grandeur other end of the materialize.

“I was hoping you’d background me Mia was with you,” she says.