Page 139 of Her Wicked Plan

I unwrap my arms from her and stand up. My legs still feel weak, but I follow her out of my room and down the stairs.

To our family, who is still sitting around the table.

To the baked goods my mother made with all the love in her heart.

To act like our world hadn’t just imploded.

CHAPTER 37

Leo

The rest of the stay at our parents flew by. I would have jumped at the chance if there were any way to go back in time. I would have sat myself in that damn time machine and gone back to the beginning of the week.

Well, to the point after our mother told us the horrible news. That way, we could hang out as a family again.

We ended up watching those romance movies and playing games where Myles tried to cheat, and we all laughed as if nothing had changed. But unfortunately, everything had changed.

In the brief moments my sister, Myles, and I had to ourselves, we spoke about the news. As soon as the topic began, Chloe started crying, which made me tear up, and then we would drop the conversation because it hurt too much.

It was still a touchy subject—one that I’m not sure we will ever be able to talk about without breaking down and trying to talk through the pain doesn’t change the outcome.

There is no other option we can choose to turn this situation around. The chemo isn’t working. The other medications aren’t working. Nothing is working in my mother’s favor, and now, we are going to be losing one of Earth’s kindest angel.

Saying goodbye to my mother was the hardest thing I ever had to do. With how awful that goodbye felt, I’m terrified of what it will be like when we have our final goodbye. I can’t think about that shit right now, or else I’d start crying again. I promised her I would come and visit more.

If there were a weekend that I had free, then I’d be here with the family. She offered me a warm smile, telling me that if I couldn’t make it, then it was all right. Making sure there was a time in my busy schedule to see them was my top priority.

The car we ordered dropped Myles off first, as the apartment was on the way to the asylum, but I didn’t bother seeing the place again. I wanted to get back.

Silence took over the ride after he left me alone with my thoughts. I didn’t have it in me to continue this car ride thinking about how my mother was dying. If I did, it would break me even more. Instead, my mind veered away from my mother and found Veronica.

Besides spending time with the people I love the most, the only good thing about this trip was that I didn’t hear from the asylum. They respected my time off and didn’t reach out, which couldn’t be said about my last job.

When I had time off, they would still call with questions and concerns. While I’m thankful Black Lake didn’t reach out, this feeling is stirring in me, as I’ve been in the dark about what has been happening.

Did Veronica behave herself? Did something crazy happen that I’ll be returning to?

Fuck. I have to stop thinking the worst about her because she is making progress. Veronica has proven to me, whether she likes it, that she is capable of change. She is coming around to trusting me and listening to what I say, besides the times she wants to be a brat during our other sessions.

I’m sure she did as she was told while I was away. I can almost picture her sitting with the stand-in doctor, most likely ignoring her.

I’m sure everything was fine.

The rest of the drive without Myles consisted of wearing my headphones, playing music that would get me out of my horrible mood, and staring out the window.

Music didn’t help, but it was a nice distraction for the trip. As we pulled to the front of the asylum, the driver shifted the car into park.

This time, the driver exited the car to help me gather my stuff. Seems like he hasn’t heard the crazy stories about this place like my first driver did, and even though I insisted I’d get it myself, the man still brought my bag out of the trunk for me.

He drove away calmly, which was the complete opposite of how the man who drove me to the facility on my first day skidded out of the driveway.

As I walk through the entrance, the familiar lobby welcomes me home, as does Edith’s kind smile behind the desk. Her soft expression brings me tears, which threaten to escape, but I force them back.

“Did you have a nice time?” she asks sweetly.

“Yeah.” It takes everything in me not to choke on my words. “How was everything here?”

Her face falls. “Dr. Bennett wanted to talk to you when you returned but asked me to discuss it with you if he were busy.”