Free All In by Molly Bryant Page A

help Vice find a place his mother will love.
    “So, I was thinking, Miss. Jackson,” I leaned forward placing my elbows on the table.
    “Please, call me Brenda,” she smiled.
    “Brenda,” I sighed. “I promise you, I will come over here everyday when I am not working to help you go through things, and pack. We can go looking at several places, and we will look until we find you the best place there is. One that you feel comfortable in,” I grabbed her hand again. “Will you promise me that you will try to do this? For you and for Vice?” And for the sake of my sanity and being able to sleep at night knowing that she is out of arms reach of my brother.
    “Do you promise you will help me?” her tired brown eyes filled with tears making my heart ache. “I have never left this place, I don’t even know how to go about doing any of this,”
    “Absolutely, I promise,” I nodded looking over at Vice who was expressionless to say the least, staring at the kitchen table with wide eyes. “I will help you,”
Chapter Five
    Vice
    We had stayed at my mothers trailer for a few hours. She talked Harlow into having a few glasses of wine with her as they started going through some of mom’s things.
    “Oh, here is a picture of Vice in the bathtub,” my mom was smiling a smile I hadn’t seen in many years, as long as I could remember. Harlow brought something out in my mom that I couldn’t. She seems to bring something out in anyone she comes in contact with.
    “Oh, look at his little butt!” Harlow said allowed, joining my mom in laughter. Both of them laughing uncontrollably, sipping on their wine glasses.
    “Ha-ha, very funny ladies,” I dropped my head in my hands.
    I watched my mom and Harlow laughing and smiling together and I never thought I would ever witness something so beautiful. For the first time in twenty five years I actually saw my mom. I saw her smile, I saw her eyes light up, and I was able to hear her laughter. I love Harlow for that, I love her period.
    “I love you,” I said allowed, staring right at Harlow not thinking about what I had just said before I said it. It just fell from my lips with myself having no control over what was being said. The laughter suddenly stopped, the only noise that surrounded my moms trailer was my thudding heart beat in my ears and the hands of the clock on the wall in the kitchen.
    “What?” Harlow whispered, nearly dropping her wine glass in her lap.
    My mom looked from Harlow to me, then back to Harlow. She nervously took a drag of her cigarette, and a drink of wine awaiting for Harlow to say something else.
    “I love you,” I said it again. This time fully aware of my words, Harlow didn’t move, she just continued to stare at me. Her eyes wet with tears. It felt as though no one was in the room except for only me and Harlow.
    “Since the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You have always been beautiful to me and tonight seeing you with my mom, making her laugh and smile, just confirms how much more beautiful of a person you really are. No one, and I mean no one has ever made my mom smile, or laugh the way you have within hours of meeting her. You Harlow Jean, are an exquisite person with a gift, and I mean it when I say that I love you,”
    “I tell you what, I will finish packing up the rest of these photo albums while you kids head on out of here,” she placed her hand on Harlow's shoulder.
    Harlow snapped out of it, looking at my mom. “Are you sure, Brenda? I don’t mind helping you finish,” she stood up, drank the rest of the wine in her glass, then setting it in the sink.
    “Oh, no… you guys go on ahead. I will see you in the morning,” my mom stood, wrapping her arms around Harlow and giving her a tight squeeze. “My son was right, you do have a gift. A gift of hope that you clearly have given me.”
    “Thank you, Brenda. I will see you tomorrow,” she hugged my mom back tightly.
    The ride back to my apartment was too quiet. I