I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane

Rose-Colored Trauma

Kenzie jolted out of her bed with her hand over her chest. She quietly sat up and looked around, realizing that she wasn't back at Evelyn's. She sighed and ignored the annoying feeling that was in her stomach.

The next morning, she decided to make breakfast. That way, she could ignore her thoughts. But, she zoned out to the point where she jumped as Patrick passed behind her.

"Sorry," she sighed.

"It's okay. Not to be sorry." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." She looked down, hoping that he didn't notice anything.

"Kenz–"

Her phone started ringing. "Can you get that?"

"Hello?"

Kenzie placed Lilly's breakfast in a small container. Lilly walked downstairs and smiled at her. She gave Kenzie a hug, which gave Kenzie some confusion. She's been doing that a lot. The grip on her was tight.

She felt Lilly's head move away from her chest. "I think Patrick wants to tell you something," said Lilly.

She let go of Lilly and turned around. She saw a confused and slightly worried look on his face. "What?" she asked.

"Bertram wants to talk to you."

"Well, that can wait until later. I gotta take Lilly to school right now." She reached her hand toward him. "Can I have my phone please?"

"Kenzie, I don't think–"

"It can wait until later." She grabbed the phone out of his hand and lightly guided Lilly out of the kitchen.

🙂

The girls eased to a stop in front of the parking zone at Lilly's high school. As Kenzie put the car in neutral, she was greeted with a hug. Slight surprise spread across her face before she wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"Everything alright, bug?" she asked.

"I'm okay. Are you?" Lilly asked.

Kenzie tensed and rubbed Lilly's back. "I'm fine, baby."

"I'm sure, baby. You don't need to worry about me. You just worry about school and being a teenager."

"Mom, I'm not stupid. I know how things work."

"It's not that. I promise you it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

Kenzie sighed. "Nothing." She pulled back and kissed her on the forehead. "Go to school. Don't cause any trouble."

Lilly playfully rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," she brushed off.

Kenzie watched as the teen walked into the front doors. Her forehead rested on the steering wheel with her fingers gripping it tightly. A faint vibration from the cup holder pulsed throughout the front seat. She grabbed it, seeing that someone left a voicemail. Anticipating some news station, she let it play.

"Mackenzie," she tensed at the sound of Bertram's voice. "I've been trying to reach you. I know you're busy with a lot of things, but we do need to talk about the incident with Evelyn."

Kenzie scoffed. "Incident? That's what we're calling it."

"I need you to come by the office so we can have a talk. You know how these things go. It'll be quick."

🙂

She walked into the lobby, wearing one of her father's old hoodie and gray sweatpants. She started messing with his ring as she stood in front of the elevator.