Tangled Vines Read Online Free PDF Page A

with her signature on file at the post office now, they could link the packages to her! She felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. She should’ve known she was messing with fire by arguing with him. It would have been smarter to just keep her mouth shut and disappear.
    Now she’d have to use more of the little bit of money she had stashed away to buy makeup. She wished she’d had time to get it before picking up Jojo but she’d just have to make do with the sunglasses. Now that he was getting older, he was starting to act protective of her and she didn’t want him asking questions.
    She looked at her watch again. The bell should have rung two minutes ago. She couldn’t wait to feel the relief that Jojo brought her with his quick smile and total acceptance. Around her other mothers, fathers, and even grandparents waited for the children, all chattering amongst themselves. As usual, Li Jin stayed to herself. She didn’t want anyone asking her questions or looking too closely through the lens of her glasses to see the dark bruise already forming under her eye. She sure didn’t want their pity if they should ferret out the truth of who she had become.
    Li Jin jumped at the sound of the shrill bell. She started her bike and smiled when she saw Jojo run through the gates in the middle of a pack of excited children. At only ten years old he was the tallest in his group of friends and easy to pick out. She almost chuckled at the way he strutted through the gates. He was trying to act cool for his classmates, but so far he had maintained most of his little-boy innocence.
    “Ma! Look what I made you!”
    She shook her head and chuckled. Since he’d started school, he’d insisted on trading the endearment of mama for ma. He said he didn’t want to sound like a baby. He tried so hard to keep up with the big boys.
    From his fingers dangled a string of beads. He handed it over to her, bouncing up and down with excitement as she studied it.
    “Jojo, that’s so beautiful. You made it for me?” The string of beads was quite colorful with alternating reds and yellows and one pearly white one in the middle.
    Jojo smiled and nodded his head. For a second he tried to maintain his macho bravado but then he couldn’t contain his excitement. “Yes, the white one is you and the colored ones are the other moms. You always stand out as the prettiest one in the crowd.”
    Li Jin was relieved she was wearing sunglasses and Jojo couldn’t see the tears well up in her eyes. She was also glad that even though he hid it when he was around Erik, he could still show his affection for her when they were alone.
    “Thank you, Jojo. I’ll wear it forever.” She tied the bracelet on her wrist and patted the seat in front of her. “Come on. We’re going to go find an afternoon treat. What do you think? Noodles or ice cream?”
    Jojo jumped up on the moped, set his backpack on the platform near her feet, and settled himself on the seat in front of her, relaxing against her chest. Sometimes he asked to sit on the back of the scooter, but she was glad he was okay to be in front today. She wanted to hold on to feeling her arms around him for as long as possible. He was her only comfort in a world that so far had done nothing but kick her in the teeth.
    “Noodles! Hurry!” He bounced up and down in the seat and made Li Jin laugh. She should’ve known her boy would want noodles. He was a big eater and was all about filling his ever-aching belly. And they knew if he really wanted it, he’d still get the ice cream later.
    She maneuvered the bike carefully out of the school parking area and turned into the bike lane on the street. The other mopeds and bicycles skirted around to make room for one more traveler.
    “Let me drive, Ma.” He pushed her hands back from the handlebars and Li Jin let them hover over his for a few minutes, then took the steering back.
    She knew just where to go. They’d sit down at the corner shop for some of Mr.