Page 179 of Trailer Trash

He bites down, his jaw flexing.

“I told you to stay away from my son. This wouldn’t have happened if you did as I said.”

“If it wasn’t for me, your son might have overdosed and died by now. How is living a happy life with me a bad thing?”

“Killian…” He takes a moment, like he hates to say what comes next. “He needs to be put in a safe place. We found a facility for people with psychiatric issues. They’re discreet.”

“He was fine! We were fine.”

“Christine isn’t happy about this, either. She wants him home. And me? No father wants to admit their flesh and blood has a mental problem.” He stands up and slips his hands into his pockets.

“I think it is just the trauma from Asher. He’s healing. He goes to therapy. Where is he? I need to go see him.”

“He hasn’t visited you because he thinks you died. He calls Jagger and leaves bizarre messages about you and Asher being dead together. Could be drugs. Could be his mind.”

“Well give me Jagger’s number! I’ll talk to him and show I’m alive.”

“No. I think it would be best if he continues to believe you’re dead, even after we find him.”

I gasp, horrified. “Why?”

“Is he really better with you in his life, Miss Anderson? Look how much trouble he’s found. Look at what happened to Evan. The cops suspect he burned down your house. He’s relapsed multiple times. He strangled his mother. He disappeared for months. He comes back sober for the umpteenth time. He’s getting married on impulse. His brother is in the ICU with possible brain damage. Explain to me, Harlow, how my son is better since you walked into his life.”

My chin trembles.

He’s right about those things, yet it feels wrong.

I could be lying to myself. Maybe Killian never left rock bottom. Maybe I just joined him down there.

“I always tried to do the right thing by him,” I assure.

“Yesterday, Christine and I filed a petition to have Killian declared incapacitated. We also asked the court to appoint us as emergency temporary guardians.”

“You can’t just decide he’s incompetent.”

“No. He’ll be evaluated once he’s found. If the emergency petition is granted, we’ll have authority to keep him safe until the hearing. When the police locate him, we’ll seek an involuntary psychiatric examination. We will be pushing the doctors to recommend inpatient treatment. That’s the private facility. Essentially, this means we will be making decisions on his behalf. I’m sorry, but he also won’t be getting married.”

“You’re not serious!”

“I am very serious. For once, do what’s best for my son, and let us take care of our family, which isn’t you.”

He gives one last look, then leaves. I sit there, utterly baffled.

Keysha and the nurse return.

Keysha grabs my bag, and the nurse helps me sit in a wheelchair, the standard procedure for anyone being discharged. They push me to the car while I sit quietly, wondering if I’ve truly been better for Killian. Clark doesn’t even know half of the other stuff Killian did. His stalking was beyond criminal.

As soon as I am buckled into her car, I look at Keysha. I tell her what Clark said.

“No shit?” she says, almost speechless.

“Yep. I need to find Killian first,” I whisper, because like him, my heart aches without him.

She cringes as she eyes a drain poking out from under my shirt. “I’ll help, but only to places you two have been. I won’t take you to dangerous drug houses.”

I nod, too weak to put up much of a fight.

For the next week, she drives me to the dance studio, the condo, and the beach. Anywhere Killian and I would go. We only stop for a few minutes, look around, and walk back to the car with our heads hanging in defeat.