all the horrible things that can happen to you in jail.”
“Yes. There was a movie about it a number of years ago. I didn’t know it was something they did here.”
“Our state has some issues with drug abuse. Unfortunately, it seems to start in junior high school. Kids overdosing on opioids.”
“That appears to be a national problem among adults as well.” Ellie sighed.
“Yes, apparently kids steal their parents’ prescriptions, but what’s worse is that someone is making bootlegged pills, so who knows what they’re taking.”
“Colleen, please try to calm down,” Ellie urged. “You don’t know what the circumstances were. Maybe he was just going for a joyride. Kids do that. Not that I know a whole lot about kids, but . . .”
“I guess I’m just frazzled,” Colleen confessed. “All the legal stuff with Mitchel and worrying about Jackson. Now I have a juvenile delinquent moving across the street.”
“I know this has been a very upsetting time for you, but try not to jump to any conclusions.” Ellie could hear the panic in Colleen’s voice.
“You’re right.” Colleen’s anxiety seemed to have eased somewhat. “I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.”
“And you may be pleasantly surprised,” Ellie said, offering more encouragement.
“Thanks, Ellie. You’ve been a real help.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You listened,” Colleen said. “I don’t have a whole lot of people I can talk to. My mother is on one of her ‘I told you so’ kicks. I can’t speak to Mitchel about any of this, and my mother-in-law, well, who knows what kind of mood she might be in.”
“She’s pretty tough, eh?” Ellie knew little or nothing about Vivian Haywood except that she was a widow and lived on a farm.
“You have no idea. She blames the world for all her suffering.”
“Many people do.” Ellie knew all too well what that was like. Not that she blamed anyone for what had happened to her except herself, but she had dealt with enough people to understand that blaming someone else is often much easier than taking responsibility. It was a national epidemic, along with stupidity and partisanship.
“Although Jackson told me that Vivian was in a great mood yesterday. She was smiling and singing. I don’t think I ever heard that woman sing a note. Never mind smiling.” She gave a little chuckle.
“People can change.” That was something she had hoped would happen with Rick when his father pretty much threw him out on his ass. “But they have to want to change. And even then, wanting doesn’t mean doing. People have to do the work.”
“You are so right, Ellie.”
“Maybe she’s had an epiphany of some sort,” Ellie joked.
“I cannot imagine what that could have been. But Jackson was simply delighted about her new attitude.”
“So he had a good day?” Ellie asked, trying not to pry.
“He did. He told me he got a little weepy when his grandmother dropped Mitchel off at his brother’s, but he was excited to tell me all about the burgers, movie, ice cream, and bowling.”
“Sounds exhausting.” Ellie laughed lightly.
“It must have been. I didn’t have to coax him to go to bed. But he woke up in the middle of the night with a nightmare.”
“Well, that’s not good.”
“That’s probably why he conked out on the swing,” Colleen added. “By the way, your yard is absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you. Hector has done an incredible job.” Ellie wished she could go out and enjoy it, but for now she had to be satisfied with looking at it from the windows.
“Seriously. He’s got a lot of talent,” Colleen said.
“Yes, he’s quite the computer whiz, too. But you probably know that. He’s won a few science awards.”
“Very smart kid. And a particularly good one. His family is lovely, too.”
“They are. His mother sent an invitation for me to join them for dinner, but as you have already guessed, I don’t leave the house.” Ellie knew that might open a can of worms for unwelcome questions, but Colleen didn’t push the issue. “Instead, she sent over a wonderful Cuban dish. It was marvelous, a real treat for someone whose cooking skills are as rudimentary as mine.” Ellie remembered how much she had enjoyed that meal.
“Did you know that Hector’s father is a musician? Not professionally, but his guitar playing would blow you away. He and some of his friends play at local events to help raise money for various groups. It’s always a lot of fun. You should come to one of them.” Colleen stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh, I’m so