Mindf*cked

They went to Josephine's hotel room where she gathered her belongings and then followed Palma back down to her car. “Nice comfy car you got," said Josephine, "but it doesn't smack of a mommy car. I thought most moms had SUVs or something like that these days." Keeping her eyes on the road, Palma smiled. "Lotta people got SUVs these days no matter what, but nope. Not me. I'm more of a compact kind of person." Josephine gave the vehicle a once-over. It was immaculate, and the air freshener dangling from the rearview mirror—shaped like a strawberry—gave off a nice fruity smell. "Well, I guess you could fit a few kids in here." "Easily. Besides, my oldest is on her own now. She's 22." "So you said you live in Goodyear?" Palma nodded. "Been there several years now." "Mind if I ask about the kids' father? Is he in the picture?" "Nope. He is not." "Oh, that's too bad." "No, actually that turned out to be a good thing. He was a real motherfucker." "Oh?" Palma nodded again. "Worthless piece of crap. It was one thing not to give a damn about your own kids, but it was another to embezzle from your boss and end up being tossed in prison for it." Josephine's eyebrows shot upward. "My God! I'm so sorry to hear that. I mean, yeah. I could see where that wouldn't be a very good influence on the kids. It must be hard for them as it is, knowing they can't see him anytime they want." Palma nodded sadly. "And there goes my child support." It was close to 9:00 when they finally pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home with an immaculate yard. The tan stucco house was flanked by a gravel yard with a few scattered palms and cactus plants. "Oh, wow," said Josephine. "If your kids like me I could definitely get used to living in this kind of luxury." She laughed and noticed that Palma didn’t laugh as well. Okay, maybe I’m coming on a bit too strong and assuming too much. She resolved to choke it back a bit. Palma turned off the engine without opening the garage door to pull the vehicle into it and then looked at Josephine. "Follow me, ma'am." Josephine followed the former detention officer along a curvy gray-white path to the front door. She recognized the familiar and typical plants of the desert… bougainvilleas, oleanders, yuccas, ocotillos, saguaros, prickly pears, barrel cacti, and others. Everything seemed so neat and modern. Even Palma's front door, with its pretty stained-glass windows of a colorful floral design, was lovely. “If the rest of the house is as beautiful as your front door, you’ve got quite a place, Palma.” “Step inside,” Palma told her, pushing the door open. Josephine was reminded of how she used to say just the opposite—step out—whenever she would do a cell search. Once inside the house, Josephine expected to be greeted with the sound of children and to see a house in disarray with toys and various objects strewn about. Instead, she was greeted with silence and absolute neatness. The house was clean, and just about everything seemed to be orderly and neat. "Wow," Josephine said. "This is beautiful, though not what I expected." "What did you expect?" asked Palma in a way that seemed a bit odd to Josephine but that she couldn't quite put a finger on. Josephine shrugged as she followed the Hispanic and possibly partially Black hottie into her kitchen. "Well, I don't know. I guess I just expected to hear the loud banter and squeals of kids and see a bunch of toys and other signs of them around the place. You sure keep them neat and quiet—unless they're out somewhere and you tidied up." Palma grinned, and Josephine wasn't sure what to say next. "Would you like something to drink?" she offered as she poured herself a glass of wine. "No, thanks. I'm good for now." "Are you good?" Josephine looked at Palma, not sure what she meant. "In what way?" Palma simply smiled and gave a quick shrug, making Josephine begin to wonder just what was up. "So where are the kids, anyway, Palma?" Josephine asked, also noticing the lack of photos. There wasn't a single family photo visible that she could see. No goofy smiles of children in the living room. No children's drawings or report cards on the refrigerator. "The kids?" "Yeah, the kids," Josephine said in a tone that suggested that should be obvious enough. "It's awfully quiet in here." "That's because it's just you and me." "Well, obviously. Are they with someone now?" Josephine asked with a slight chuckle as she surveyed the immaculate kitchen. "They might be." Josephine turned back to find Palma gazing at her in the strangest way. But before Josephine could question her, Palma's expression returned to normal and she said, "Relax, babe. They're with a family member, and the maid cleaned the house while you were gone." "I figured it must be something like that," Josephine said, not sure if she felt any more comfortable than she had a few minutes ago. Something’s weird. I just don't know what it is. "How many bedrooms do you have?" "Three." "Five people to three bedrooms, plus you're hoping to add a nanny? Wow. That would definitely be one crowded house," Josephine laughed. "I'm looking for a live-in nanny and maid who also cooks. Do you think that would be a fair trade for free room and board and food as well? Plus, I would also agree to take care of any medical expenses you may have that I can afford, or at least help you get a cheap plan of some kind." "It sounds like it would be a great job, but I really don't want to commit to anything without a trial run first. Maybe I'll find it's not for me, even though I think I would enjoy it very much. Or maybe we'll find that your kids don't like me." "Why wouldn't they like you?" Palma asked. "You a weirdo or something?" Josephine chuckled. "Well, I like to think I'm not, but sometimes kids see things differently than us adults do, as I'm sure you know." "Oh?" Palma asked with mock surprise. After an awkward moment of silence, Josephine said, "So let's work out a plan. When are they due back home?" "In a few days." “Summer vacation means more time spent with the lazy bastard.” "I hope lazy is his worst crime as opposed to abusive, though I suppose it's none of my business. But hey, didn't you say he was in prison?" "Yeah, but they visit him there. He's not abusive either. If he were, he wouldn't be seeing the kids because he wouldn't be alive to do so. Get what I'm saying, girl?" Josephine nodded, still having a strange feeling and still not sure what was going on or why she felt the way she did. You just aren't used to going to the home of your former jailer from decades ago and on such short notice, she tried to tell herself. But you know it's more than that. Something’s up with Palma. You just don't know what it is… Yet.