Free California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances by Casey Dawes

use the public defender? Waiting for David to sort things out on his own hadn’t turned out well. She wished she had someone to talk with. A man’s point of view would be nice.
    Forty-five minutes later, David walked through the door with the detective behind him.
    Ramos handed her the release papers and looked at David. “Stay out of any more trouble.” He turned and walked away.
    She stared at her son.
    “Let’s go, Mom,” he said and walked out the front door. She followed, her mind racing as she tried out all the things she might say. Were you out of your mind? This could go on your record! You could have been hurt!
    She said nothing.
    When they got home, David slammed into his room. She went right after him.
    “No you don’t,” she said, her voice cold with anger and fear. “You aren’t going into your room and closing the door without having a conversation with me first.”
    “What do you want me to say, Ma?” he asked. “Fine. If you want to lecture me, get it over with and let me get some sleep. I’m tired.”
    “I don’t care if you’re tired, young man. I want to know what you think you were doing.”
    He continued to glare at her with his arms crossed for another minute before slumping onto his bed. His skin had a gray hue and dark circles underscored eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Annie felt the tension begin to seep out of her body.
    “I’m sorry, mom. I don’t know. I feel crazy. When we lived with Dad, you were angry all the time. You split us up and it was better, I guess. But now you want us to move to nowhere New Jersey. If I don’t go, I lose you. If I do go, I lose everything else. It’s not fair.”
    She sat next to him on his bed.
    “No, it’s not fair. I know you want to stay here. I wish we could. But I’m thinking of you. I’m thinking of the money it’s going to take to get you through Berkeley. Even living here is expensive.”
    “It’s always about money with you. What about our lives? What about my friends? I don’t have to go to Berkeley if it means I can stay here.”
    She started to stroke his head, but he pulled away.
    “Honey, I’m trying to keep you safe. I worry about you. No matter how big you get, you’ll always be my kid. What you did is bad — it could screw up your future. Promise me you won’t do anything this stupid again.” She hugged his stiff body and said, “You’re grounded, you know. Probably for the rest of your life.” She smiled at him, her heart aching.
    “Okay. Can I sleep now?”
    “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    The sooner they moved, the better.
    She trudged up the stairs and thought of the next item on her list.
    Call Fred.
    Tomorrow would be soon enough.
    • • •
    Annie shook coffee beans into the grinder and whirled them into submission. Too bad her problems couldn’t be ground into tiny bits as easily. While her coffee brewed, Annie’s thoughts scattered. Maybe I should repaint before I put the house on the market.
    I could put David in a boarding school while I’m in New Jersey. A military boarding school.
    Should I go out with John?
    I need to clear out the garage.
    She shook the untidiness from her mind and dug her original “to do” list out of her handbag.
    ✓ Tell David
    Tell Fred
    ~ Find out details from Randy NJ Director Jim Borzetti
    Connect with new boss in New Jersey
    Start transfer process
    Call realtor
    Contact corporate housing for help to find an apartment in New Jersey
    Hold a garage sale
    Pack
    Move
    Pay parking ticket
    Hopefully, she’d hear from Jim today. She could call him to make sure he received her e-mail, but that might make her seem desperate.
    Who was she kidding? She was desperate.
    She looked at the clock and listened for the shower. No noise. She padded down the stairs and rapped on David’s door.
    “Get up. You’re going to be late for school.”
    “Stop nagging, Mom. I’m on it.”
    “Just do it,” Annie said and stomped upstairs. She hadn’t slept well last night,