Free Forgivin' Ain't Forgettin' by Mata Elliott Page A

business.
    “Okay,” Brandi said, and rolled over twice before reaching the brink of the mattress.
    Trevor had not interrogated Brandi yesterday and asked now, “Why was your jacket in Cassidy’s room?”
    “I left it under the bed when I was hiding from Sis.”
    “Stay out of there,” he reinforced, taking his cell phone from the nightstand.
    Brandi climbed off the bed. “I love you, Daddy.”
    “I love you, too.”
    “I love you more than banilla ice cream,” she said, initiating the game she loved to play with him as she jumped-hopped-skipped to the door.
    Trevor was about to press the button to speed-dial Derek but could not neglect the opportunity to provide his daughter the joy of playing in this simple way
.
“I love you more than vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.”
    “I love you more than banilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles.”
    Trevor added another topping, and it was Brandi’s turn.
    “I love you more than banilla ice cream with chocolate syrup, sprinkles”—she rolled her eyes to the top of her head, making sure she remembered in sequence—“coconut, and cherries,” she yelled, finalizing the building of the sundae as she scurried out of sight.
    Trevor listened as the phone rang for the fifth time, also concerned about Derek Hines. Derek was the only person other than his secretary and his sister whom Trevor had given Mother Vale’s phone number to. He’d told the boy to use it only in case of an emergency, so as the phone continued to go unanswered, Trevor’s worry over the fourteen-year-old doubled. Like Brandi, he had become quite fond of Derek, despite a shaky beginning.
    Six months ago, Derek had been caught stealing from Seconds. Trevor had planned to come down hard on him, teach him a lesson while he was impressionable. But after learning the youngster wanted the food for two small brothers, Trevor decided against notifying the police. Instead, he set Derek up with part-time employment and homework help, and when he discovered Derek’s passion for basketball, he gave him a spot on the City Champions team. Derek excelled on the court, and his grades and attitude improved as well.
    “Who dis?” Derek’s mother answered the phone.
    Trevor grimaced at the ragged salutation. “Hello, Miss Hines. This is Coach Monroe. Is Derek there?”
    “Oh, Coach, how you
doin’
?”
    “I’m fine, Miss Hines, and you?”
    “Oh, I’m doin’ real good, now.”
    Trudy Hines’s routine flirtation dance had begun and would swing into full gear if Trevor didn’t end it pronto. “Have Derek call me when he gets in, please. And you have a good day.”
    “Wait,” Trudy said before he could disconnect.
    When Trudy didn’t say anything more, Trevor asked, his voice even, “Is there something I can do for you, Miss Hines?” He wrinkled his face as soon as the words were released. That had definitely been the wrong way to put it.
    “Oh, there’s a lot you can do for me,” Trudy said like she was auditioning for a phone-sex job.
    Trevor was sure he heard Derek’s voice in the background, amid the cries of a younger child and the brouhaha of the television. “Is Derek home?” he asked again.
    “Yeah, he home!”
    The phone had been slammed against something hard, and Trevor had to pull the receiver away from his ear. He brought the phone back to hear Trudy discharging a string of obscenities while informing Derek she wasn’t his secretary.
    It amazed Trevor how well Derek dealt with Trudy, a reckless mother if ever there was one. If it had not been for Derek’s pleas, Trevor would have turned Trudy over to Social Services months ago. But Derek vowed he would help his mom raise his brothers to keep them from being separated. At times, Trevor questioned whether he was doing the right thing, keeping his mouth shut. At times, he was downright uncomfortable with the decision. So he kept in close contact with Derek and donated groceries or clothing for Derek and his brothers