Under Your Skin Read Free Page B

closed adoptions. She could click or call or text and be connected with a counselor who would answer questions and talk with her. Voicing those options and questions were scary though. She wasn’t ready for that step.
    Instead, she clicked back to job Web sites to find a way to make money. She feared she wouldn’t have any more luck there.
    * * *
    Kai strode into the hospital carrying a bouquet of roses for his mom. Horrible memories of visiting injured friends hit him. Hospitals reminded him of bad times. His adolescence spent running the streets of Chicago with a gang meant he was used to seeing friends hurt. Fistfights, knife fights, gun fights—he’d witnessed it all. Walking in here was never a happy thing.
    Jaleesa had already texted him the floor and room information. From inside his mom’s room, he heard Jaleesa’s melodic voice reading. Their mom had always been a bookworm so he wasn’t surprised.
    He pushed through the door. When she looked up from her bed, Lani smiled at him. She looked small and weak and so unlike how he was used to seeing her.
    â€œCome here, boy.”
    He walked to the bed and bent over to hug and kiss her as best he could without disturbing her leg.
    Jaleesa stood and took the flowers from him. “I’ll find something to put these in.” She patted his arm in acknowledgment. She probably thought he wouldn’t come.
    He almost didn’t. He didn’t like to see Lani this way. Although a small woman, she always seemed big, mostly because she had a way of yelling at him that could make him feel tiny. Dragging Jaleesa’s vacated chair closer, he sat beside his mom. He took her hand. “How are you?”
    â€œI’m fine. Doctor says I’ll be dancing again in no time.”
    He wanted to believe her, but behind the smile, he saw the pinched expression of pain in her eyes. “That’s good.”
    â€œThey say I should be out of here in three days or so.”
    â€œAbout that. Jaleesa and I have been talking. We think you should go to a rehabilitation facility. Jaleesa’s house would be too hard for you to maneuver until you’re back to full strength.”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not going to an old folks’ home.”
    â€œThat’s not what this is. People of all ages go there to recover. The staff knows what to do and you’ll have someone around to make sure you’re okay.”
    She folded her hands on her lap and pressed her lips together, but not before he saw the tremble. “You both just want to get rid of me. I see how it is.”
    â€œNo, Mom. Listen.”
    She shot him a mean look. “You listen, Kai. I’m not weak or stupid. If you don’t want me around, say so. You wouldn’t be the first man to do that.”
    And she lobbed the jab he’d learned to expect. His father had left them when Kai was young, and Lani held it against all men, even her son. Of course it hadn’t helped that he’d been in so much trouble as a teenager. He’d been no help to her.
    He sighed and stood. “I’ll be back to see you tomorrow. You want me to bring you anything?”
    She sniffed and turned her head. For an old woman, she sure did know how to act like a child. Kai pushed through the door and almost ran into Jaleesa in the hall. She held the flowers in a plastic pitcher.
    â€œLeaving already?”
    â€œIt’s time. Where are the kids?”
    â€œAt home with Matt.” She hitched her chin toward the door behind him. “What happened?”
    â€œShe got mad when I brought up the rehab facility.”
    Jaleesa shook her head. Hugging the flowers to her chest, she leaned against the wall. “You should’ve waited for me.”
    â€œWhat would that have accomplished? Then she’d be mad at both of us. What are we gonna do?”
    â€œShe’d feel better and probably recover faster if she feels safe. Your house is