Carrying Hope Read Online Free Page A

the floor and cry.
    A few minutes of crying later, Kevin had something to say.
    “Hey, could you keep it down?”
    “Screw you,” I shouted through tears.
    “Jesus, Marcie, get over it.”
    I hugged my knees to my chest. How could I be so heartbroken over something that never really was?
    “Oh, by the way, I need your half of the rent tomorrow.”
    I guess I should have known that we weren’t really a couple when we still split all of the bills straight down the middle. There were plenty of times when Kevin was short and I had to cover his portion; I only hoped that he’d do the same for me.
    I swallowed the lump in my throat, my mouth suddenly drier than the Sahara.
    “Um… about that. I’m not going to have it.”
    He glared at me.
    “Why not?”
    I stifled another sniffle and wiped away the tears that streaked my face.
    “Sal fired me.”
    “Jesus H. Christ, Marcie, what did you do?”
    “I didn’t do anything!”
    He clucked his tongue at me and gave me a patronizing look.
    “Sure. You never do anything. Poor innocent Marcie just has life shit on her all the time. But it’s never her fault. Find a way to come up with the money.”
    “I can’t do that, you know that.”
    “Then I guess you’ll need to find a new place to live, won’t you?”
    My mouth hung open in shock.
    “Are you serious? You can’t cut me some slack for a few days? After all of the times I’ve covered your ass?”
    He shrugged at me again. My hands balled into fists involuntarily. I wanted to throttle him and make him realize what a complete ass he was being.
    I took a deep steadying breath before standing. If this was how it was going to be then I didn’t really have a choice.
    I packed my backpack full of clothes and mementos. Only the things I absolutely needed. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had enough for a roach motel for one night, but then I would have absolutely nothing for food. Hopefully I would be able to find a bed at a shelter. Regardless, it was going to be a very long night.

Chapter 4
    A gnarled bony hand grasped my own in a firm grip that I didn’t expect from the frail looking old man.
    “I almost thought you weren’t going to make it, Dorian.” His voice was little more than a raspy whisper.
    I slid onto the barstool next to him, still wary of the stranger.
    “I hear you have some information for me?”
    The old man looked around; presumably to make sure no one was listening in on our conversation.
    I took the opportunity to look around as well, making note of the dingy mugs displayed on the shelf behind the bar and the colorful crowd of misfits that filled the joint. It was definitely a dive bar in every sense of the word. Music blasted from an ancient looking juke box, the loud crack of billiards balls knocking into each other was often punctuated by raucous cheering or cursing.
    My eyes roved the perimeter, scanning for threats that the old timer may have missed. The characters didn’t seem like they would be the strictly law-abiding types, but for my purposes they were harmless enough.
    I debated whether to order a drink or not, unsure of the cleanliness of anything in the establishment. Alcohol would kill all of the germs though, I reassured myself before ordering a double scotch from the bartender.
    The surly barkeep didn’t seem to appreciate my presence in his bar. I was not dressed for the occasion, wearing the pants and shirt from one of my nicer suits and shiny dress shoes that looked even more expensive than they were in comparison to my surroundings.
    Nevertheless, money talks and I got my drink without any smart remarks, despite the glower the pot-bellied man gave me as he slid my drink down the grimy bar.
    I gulped the drink down in three big swallows, knowing I’d likely regret it later as the icy burn started to work its way through my limbs. I felt on edge, jumpy, and out of my element. I was used to owning whatever room I stepped into. It wasn’t really my style to be