Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

“Not to me. Like I said, I only spoke to her for a moment. The other women are the ones you should ask about that.”

Alma wobbled to her feet and, with trembling hands, reached for Angelica’s plate.

“Sit down,” Baxter commanded. “This dinner was too much for you. I don’t want you lifting another finger tonight.”

Alma thudded into her seat like his words had physically pushed her down.

Mia jumped up, regretting the strain she’d put on Alma. “I’ll clear. It’s the least I can do.”

She began gathering up dishes.

“I’ll help.” Isaiah rose and started pulling plates. “Angelica, Mom, Dad, you all stay put. Mia and I have got it under control.”

As Mia and Isaiah worked, Alma reached for Angelica’s wrist. “Are we still on for church tomorrow afternoon?”

“Oh, Mom, I can’t. I haven’t been into the office all week, and I have to check in with my team. I don’t know how late I’ll be. Maybe Dad or Isaiah could take you.”

Dead silence. Then Isaiah laughed. “C’mon, Mom. You know Dad and I are ‘spiritual but not religious’. I wouldn’t want Father Clifford to faint seeing one of us in a house of worship.”

Mia, on the other hand, very much wanted to light a candle and say a prayer for Celeste. She wasn’t Catholic, but surely that didn’t matter in a situation like this. “I get off at three o’clock tomorrow. If that’s not too late, I can take you.”

Alma looked at her with watery eyes. “Would you? I’m not supposed to drive. I’m afraid the doctor has me medicated.”

“I’d really love to. And Alma, if there’s anything else I can do for you or the family, I’d be honored.”

Alma sighed. “You truly are lovely, dear. Yes, let’s light a candle for Celeste. I’ll be ready at, say, three thirty?”

“Perfect.” Suddenly realizing how precariously the plates were balanced on her arms, Mia sent a where-is-it? look to Isaiah.

He bent his neck indicating the way, and she followed him into a large kitchen with white cabinets, marble countertops, gleaming appliances and every gadget known to man. Loads of fresh flowers, probably from well-wishers, filled the room with a pungent fragrance that reminded her of a hospital.

Isaiah let his dishes clatter, willy-nilly, onto the countertop as she stacked hers ever-so-gently in the farmhouse sink.

He snuck up behind her, and she spun around, her heart beating only a little too fast. She wasn’t scared of him—not as much as before, anyway.

He touched her shoulder, lightly, not in a threatening way. “Thanks for keeping our unfortunate meeting at Lacy’s a secret.”

“There was no reason to mention it.”

“Still, some girls—women—would have loved to tell my family what an ass I am. I did say I was sorry, right? Because I’m absolutely repentant.”

“Yes, you’ve apologized multiple times. And why would I want to hurt your family… or you?” She sidestepped his grasp.

“You wouldn’t, would you? Because you’re a nice person.”

“Well, anyway, I would never.”

“Good, because you’re right, it would devastate my family. Mom can hardly sleep despite the way her doctor is loading her up with tranquilizers, and Dad doesn’t eat. Angelica puts on a brave face, but I’ve caught her crying more than once. The last thing they need is to find out their black sheep—” he pointed at his chest “— is acting the fool at a strip club.”

“I figured.”

“But since you bring up the club…”

“I didn’t,” Mia said.

“What were you doing at Lacy’s? You weren’t really applying for the waitress job.”

She wanted to tell him all about the matchbook she’d found in Celeste’s pocket, and about Shoshanna, but she worried he might not keep Celeste’s secrets as well as he kept his own. He claimed he wanted to protect his mother, but how could she be sure he wasn’t merely looking out for himself? And if Isaiah did tell Alma her daughter was spotted at a gentlemen’s club, there’s no telling what it would do to her in her fragile state. Better to fill Detective Samuels in on things and then let him decide how to handle it. “What I was doing at Lacy’s is a long story. And what about you? The bouncer said this wasn’t your first offense. What did he mean by that?”

“Also a long story. I’d have told you over coffee, but you didn’t have time. Now I’m the one who doesn’t.” He turned up his palms as if to say he knew she didn’t trust him, and she hadn’t earned his trust yet either.

Fair enough. Leaning against the counter, she almost crumpled from the weight of her misdeeds, her lies, the horrible thought of what Celeste might be going through. And then there was the uncertainty of her own mother’s fate—something she’d compartmentalized as best she could until Celeste’s disappearance had brought the past roaring back to mind.

“You okay?” Isaiah’s voice sounded low and concerned.

She snapped to attention. “Perfect. But I should probably call it a night.”

“Yeah, you seem tired.” Something about the way he pushed his hair off his forehead reminded her of a little boy—a very sad little boy.

After a round of goodbyes, Isaiah walked her out like a gentleman. Approaching her Jetta, she looked down and dug in her purse for her keys. When she looked up again, Isaiah was frowning at her—waving a piece of notebook paper.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“No idea. Where did you get it?”

“Off your windshield.”

A sickening feeling of dread came over her as she grabbed the note from his hand.

Isaiah aimed his phone light onto the printed words and read them aloud:

Stay away from the Coopers.

I’m warning you.

Ten

Friday

Detective Samuels had filled Mia’s cup to the brim and, when she checked her watch, water splashed onto the front of her white blouse. Though her mouth was still dry, she set the cup down on the laminated table beside her, not wanting to chance another spill—this was awkward enough already.

“It’s okay to be nervous. This your first time