He Gave Me Fifty Dollars to Live, I Left Him with Nothing novel · Chapter 18 of 32

Chapter 18: The Last Thing You'll Film

At three o'clock on Thursday I stood in the school pick-up line with Maisie's teacher on my left and thirty parents behind me.

It was the same line where Whitney had once laughed at a leaking boot.

Now every parent in it had seen the ballroom clip.

Nobody was looking at me with pity.

They were looking at me with respect, and it made me want to hide.

Maisie came out of the doors in her new boots, with her backpack bouncing.

She had a fresh scab on her knee and a drawing of a seahorse in her hand.

"Mom! My teacher said I can write the notes for the aquarium. The trip's paid. Somebody paid it."

I looked at her teacher.

She shrugged and smiled and did not say a word.

"Somebody did," I said, and kissed the top of Maisie's head.

A white convertible pulled to the curb with its top down.

Whitney stepped out in sunglasses and a pale pink coat.

She had her phone up before her heels touched the pavement.

"Hi, everyone! Family first," she sang, filming the line. "My little sister's pick-up day. Maisie! Come give me a hug!"

Maisie went stiff and moved behind my leg.

"No, thank you," she said.

"Aw, don't be shy. Smile for the camera."

"Whitney," I said. "Put it down."

"I'm just sharing a happy moment." She swung the phone toward my face. "How does it feel to hide behind a child, Roz? Tell everybody. Are you manic today?"

A father behind me said, "Lady, that's enough."

Whitney ignored him.

"Say it for my followers. Say you've been lying for six years."

I pulled Maisie against my side.

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