A week passed with ease. Carter went to Vee's every day aside from Wednesday and Sunday, because Jonah took her out to lunch those days and she slept when she got home.
Currently, Carter was eating dinner with Hailey and Nadia's family. Their phone rang.
This was the first time Carter had met Hailey, actually. She'd seen her around, but today was the first time they've been officially introduced. There wasn't much to say.
She had pale skin, and wavy brown hair. She was young, and has soft cheeks. Currently, she wore a black t shirt and an army-green jacket.
Nadia had just answered the phone when Carter bit into a meatball. On the television Quigley Down Under played. This was one of Carter's favorite movies, and the only Western she found worth watching.
"Carter." Nadia said. Her tone sounded like it wasn't the first time she tried to get her attention.
"Huh?"
"It's your mom." Nadia held the phone out. Carter hopped off her chair and took the device, using her fingers to play with the curly cord.
"Hello?"
"Hello, dear. Are you busy?"
"Just eating dinner." Carter answered dully while she cast her eyes back on the screen.
"Mark will be home from work soon. I really have a good feeling about this promotion," she started. Carter could hear clanking in the background, and she could only imagine Grace was prepping in the kitchen.
Carter hummed in response. It was incredibly unusual to receive a call at Vee's. That said, Mathew finding milk for the the orphaned infant had an easier time holding the teenagers attention.
"I was thinking it would be nice for all of us to be here when Mark gives us the news. To support him."
There was a pause, and Carter realized Grace was expecting a response. "I don't know." She said hesitantly, "I don't think he'll care if I'm there or not."
"Please, dear." Grace asked almost desperately. Almost sadly. "I really think this family can work. I do. I know it's been hard these last few years... but I think we have a chance now. We just need to try."
Carter sighed. Her mother was on the brink of tears. And maybe she was right. Problems have been fixing themselves recently, but that trend can't continue forever. Blood, sweat, and tears need to be put in to make this work.
Or rather, wasted, as blood, sweat, and tears have already been a part of the situation. If she didn't start putting in her fair share of effort, blood, sweat,, and tears would be wasted. Carter sighed.
"Okay. I'm on my way over." She agreed reluctantly. She put the phone back on the wall, and bid farewell to her second family before making her way back home.
Three minutes away from her house, Mark's truck drove by, kicking up dust and making Carter cough. He could've picked me up, Carter thought with a roll in her eyes, or at least slow down so I'm not left in a cloud of dirt.
Mark may not be the same angry man he was months ago, but he was still an angry man nonetheless. That sort of thing doesn't go away overnight.
Maybe he got the promotion. He's rushing home to celebrate, Carter reasoned optimistically. It's not like he'd stop to pick her up anyway.
Walking on the driveway, Carter could recognize muffled shouting from inside the house. Her heart sank fast at first, then slowly. And for some small minutes, Carter stood outside the front door and just stared at it, readying herself for what's inside.
