Chapter 80: The Morning After

Trista‘s POV

Knock. Knock. Knock. It sounded like thunder in my head. I opened my eyes and realized it was just Hazel knocking on my door. Sunlight flooded through the window.

It was morning. I squinted in the light. I had a headache. I must have drank a bit too much beer with Johnson last night. He must have brought me to bed and tucked me in, too. Because my memory was a bit groggy and I didn’t remember going to bed

“Trista?” Hazel called from the living room. “I let myself in. I hope that’s okay?”

“I’m coming,” I called from the bedroom. Of course it was okay. I’d given Hazel a key. She was welcome in my home any time.

I quickly wrapped myself in a housecoat and went out to meet her in the kitchen. She was already putting on a pot of coffee. I yawned and scratched my head.

“I need some serious caffeine, stat,” I told her. Then I glanced at the clock.

Oh my! It was past nine!

I didn’t hear my kids. Their shoes were by the front door were gone. Johnson must have brought them to schoo