Free Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell Page A

closed his mouth and folded his arms across his chest, his eyes piercing the night with hate.
    Officer Stapleton nodded at Mom. “I’m sure she doesn’t feel well, ma’am. She’s had a lot to drink and some marijuana.”
    Mom gasped and covered her mouth. “Is that true?” She lifted Olivia’s chin and peered into her eyes. “What is going on with you? How could you do that?”
    “I don’t know.” Olivia put her head in her hands.
    “You don’t know?” Charles sputtered through clenched teeth as his face morphed into mottled blotches of red and white. His eyebrows rose to a peak in the middle like little horns.
    Olivia watched his ears turn beet red and expected smoke to billow from them at any moment. His hands clenched and unclenched several times, like he wanted to strangle something … her.
    “I’m through with you.” Charles looked from Olivia to the cop and back to Olivia with complete disgust before storming into the house. The door slammed violently, and the house seemed to shudder in fear.
    Olivia’s eyes pled with the police officer.
Take me with you
. She faced a rough night if she stayed in that house. As long as Mom stuck around, she might be okay. But once Mom went to bed … being arrested would be a much better option.
    “Ma’am, is everything going to be all right here?” He peered closer at Mom’s face. His eyes widened. “Don’t I know you from somewhere … um”—he checked his papers—”Mrs. Whitford?”
    Her hand still covering her mouth, Mom nodded. “You’re Mark Stapleton. We used to go to church together when I was still married to Olivia’s dad—before the accident.”
    “Oh wow. You’re Ginny Mansfield.” The officer grinned. “I haven’t seen you in ages. How are y–” His face darkened. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was surprised to see you and forgot what was happening here for a moment. How unprofessional.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and extended a business card to Olivia and one to her mom. “Please call me if you run into any trouble or need anything—either of you. My direct line is on there.”
    Mom took the card and stared at it blankly, her eyes dull and chalky. It didn’t look like things were computing for her. She opened her mouth and closed it several times. No words came.
    Officer Stapleton sighed. “You know”—he reached into the car and pulled out a pamphlet from under the visor—”I don’t normally do this, but in this case, I just can’t help myself. I hope it’s okay.” Officer Stapleton handed the glossy brochure to Mom.
    “Diamond Estates?” Mom turned the paper over and studied the back.
    How could that be? The old stone castle pictured on the front proved it was the exact same brochure Jodie had given Olivia earlier that day. Coincidence was one thing, but this seemed like some sort of cosmic conspiracy against her.
    “It’s a place where troubled girls can get real help in all areas of their lives—physical, mental, and spiritual. The director, Ben Bradley, and his wife, Alicia, are doing some amazing work there—even their son, Justin, pitches in. I’ve been out there to help twice. Building projects … stuff like that. Wonderful thing they’ve got going on.”
    “But … we don’t need … Olivia’s not troubled.” Mom shook her head, her eyes confused.
    He put his hand on his radio. “I’m not going to say any more. I could get into trouble for even bringing it up to you while I’m on the job. Just take a look at it. You know your situation far better than I do.” He gave one swift nod and got into his cruiser. The flashing lights stopped as the window rolled down. “You call me anytime, okay?”
    Olivia nodded but refused to look at her mom.
    He gave a soft smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling with kindness, then drove away with a wave.
    When the rumble of his motor and the beam from his headlights faded into nonexistence, Olivia stood trembling. Exposed. “Mom?”
    Mom’s head snapped back, and