Carlos leaned forward, brow knitted in concentration, opened his mouth only to have Angelica interrupt, “I haven’t told you about my jobs, Mom. Two mornings a week I’m working as a classroom assistant, plus I’m putting in a supper shift in the kitchen at the Union.”
“Angel, do you have time for that and your school?”
“The teacher’s aide work is required as part of a theory of education course I’m taking, plus they pay me for it. I have to write it up and do a critique. Besides, I really like the teacher I’m working with. She reminds me of you.”
A little laugh at the other end. “That’s sweet of you to say.”
Carlos said, “Mom…”
She cut him off crisply. “Another time, Carlos. I’m really tired, so I’ll hang up. I’ll call again, when I have some news. Goodnight, dears. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Angelica leaned forward to cut off the dial tone, regarding her brother with dislike. “You had to bring up Dad and talk about bail money? When did Dad call you?”
“I said, this afternoon. Phone woke me about four.”
“You slept through your afternoon classes? Honestly, Carlos! You’ve already had one warning from the foundation. Did you tell Dad that Mom inherited some money?”
“He was in a state, you know, so I may have mentioned it.”
She angrily tore the crust off her cold pizza and drowned it in a half glass of milk beside her, vividly remembering Mrs. Gaines’s words on the stairs.
He said, in a falsely casual voice, “I think we ought to find out where she is.”
Angelica opened the oven and felt the pizza she’d saved for him. It was no warmer than her face, which felt fiery. “You already tried that. She heard what you were doing, asking her what time it was.”
He gave her a condescending look, saying loftily, “I think I’ll get caller ID. I don’t like the idea of her off by herself where nobody can get in touch with her or help her or anything.”
“Dad never wanted Mom off somewhere either. He wanted her right there, where he could help himself, like to her paycheck.”
“Boy, that’s really loyal!”
She bit her tongue. “Carlos, this isn’t working. I can’t live with you. I had my doubts about this sharing bit . . .”
“I shared last year.”
“So why not with the same people this year?”
He stared sulkily at his feet. “They had other plans.”
She took a deep breath. “See, that’s the mistake I made. I figured you knew how to do it, but my guess is you never learned and they didn’t want you back.”
“That’s my business.”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s totally your business. Providing late-night suppers for people you invite in is totally your business. Drinking beer until midnight and not going to class is totally your business. Mrs. Gaines has someone who wants a two-bedroom, and she told me she’ll let me off the lease to this apartment if I switch to an efficiency upstairs. I’m going to take it.”
“We won’t fit into an efficiency. It’s only one room!”
“Exactly. I’m moving upstairs and you’ll have to make other arrangements.”
“Aww, Angel”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“You can’t just move out on me. I’ll keep this place.”
“My name is the only one on the lease. From now on, I’ll take care of my business, you take care of yours.”
She went into her bedroom and closed the door, refusing to come out even to the sound of breaking crockery. When he left, twenty minutes later, she called Mrs. Gaines and told her she’d be moving as soon as possible.
Law enforcement—WEDNESDAY
In the university town where Angelica and Carlos were living, in a precinct house not far from the Morningside Project, a grizzled sergeant crouched over a pile of paperwork, chewing the end of his pen and trying to remember what it was his wife had asked him to bring home after work. She’d offered to write it down, he’d said he’d remember, now he didn’t remember. Like a damn ritual. Why didn’t he let her write it down, for cristsake?