Read Online Suicide Note by Teresa Mummert - Free Book Online Page A

like Jenn?
    “I’ll just go box this up for you.” Mama D smiled and patted Jenn on the arm before picking up the cake and retreating back into the kitchen. I licked the chocolate from my finger, silently cursing myself for overstepping my bounds, and took a bite of my cookie as my eyes danced over the home’s old-fashioned décor. Was I that starved for human contact that I would take advantage of a woman who needed someone she could trust?
    “You come here a lot?” I asked as I shoved the final bite into my mouth.
    “I used to.” She shrugged as she finished off her cookie as well. “But I’m trying to take in less calories.”
    “You’re kidding. You’re perfect.”
    “You haven’t met my sister.” Jenn rolled her eyes as Mama D stepped back into the room.
    “Here you go, dear. Ten dollars.”
    “I got it.” I pulled my wallet from my back pocket. It was tattered and falling apart. I grabbed out a twenty-dollar bill and gave it to the elderly woman. “Keep the change.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled and leaned in to give Jenn a kiss on the cheek. “You enjoy that cake,” she called out as we turned to leave.
    “We certainly will,” I replied and pushed open the door so she could carry the cake through.
    “Where to?” I asked as I walked down the steps and opened the back door to slide the cake in on the seat.
    “I have no idea.” She laughed as she glanced around.
    I tossed the keys to her and she caught them, looking up to me in surprise.
    “Oh, I can’t drive.”
    “Sure you can. May won’t mind.”
    She shook her head and laughed.
    “No. I mean, I don’t know how to drive.”
    I cocked my head and furrowed my brow wondering how it was even possible for someone who was…old enough to know better not to know how to drive.
    “It’s a long story.” She laughed as she played with the keys in her hand, flipping over a keychain that had a picture of Jake and his wife and two small boys. They were smiling and looking happier than she had ever seen him look.
    “You can tell me along the way.” I rounded the back of the car and pulled open the passenger-side door, sliding inside. “What have you got to lose?” I asked out of the cracked window.
    “Why are you doing this?” Her face broke into a small smile.
    I shrugged my shoulders as I thought about how to answer her. I wasn’t sure myself. I could see the sadness that lingered just below the surface in her, reflecting my own. I wanted to make her feel better, wanted her to know there were worse things in life. I had seen them, but I kept those memories locked away. I couldn’t save my mother, my relationship, Jake’s baby, or the Iraqi soldier, but I could save Jenn, and maybe I could save myself.
    “Fine.” She sighed as she slid into the driver’s seat and pulled her seatbelt over her chest. She stuck the key in the ignition, causing the car to rev to life. “Now what?”
    “Keep your foot on the brake and put the car in reverse.”
    She did as she was instructed.
    “Now put your foot on the gas and slowly back us out of the space.”
    She nodded and pushed down on the gas pedal, sending the car lurching backward several feet.
    “Woah!” My hands flew to the dashboard in front of me.
    She put the car back into park and threw her hands into the air.
    “I can’t do this.” Her hands covered her face in embarrassment. My fingers wrapped around her wrists and pulled her hands back from her face.
    “You can and you will. Try again.” I refused to let her give up on herself.
    “You’re putting your life in my hands. I hope you know what you’re doing.” She put the car in reverse again and slowly pushed down on the gas pedal. They eased out of the yard and onto the alley behind them.
    “Now put it in drive and slowly pull forward toward the stop sign.”
    She followed my instructions and inched her way toward the end of the ally.
    “Which way?” Both of our heads turned in each direction over the virtually empty