Page 194 of Her Wicked Plan

“I’m not sure, but I plan on having a stern talk with him when I meet him.” The joke was meant to lighten the mood, but It doesn’t. The mere thought of her dying still lingers with the words, and it hurts. “Everyone dies, and as much as it hurts, all of you will get through this. You have each other to fall back on when times get tough.”

The familiar words ring in my ear. I can’t think about her right now. Not at a time like this.

“Your father is stubborn, and even though me leaving this Earth will shatter him, he won’t show it. Be kind to him. Check up on him,” she states. “Your sister will have the hardest time, I’m afraid. Although, she will have Myles to lean on, you also have to be there for her to pick up her broken pieces. For Carter's sake, too. Bless that boy. He has no idea what is really happening.”

“I think he understands more than we know,” I say, running the pad of my thumb along the back of her hand. “He is a child, though. He doesn’t understand that this is a sad time for the family.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” Her words catch me off guard. “I’ve lived a wonderful life, sweetheart. You may mourn my death but also celebrate it.”

“Death doesn’t deserve celebrations.”

Her head shakes a little, her mouth wanting to curl into a smile. “It does sometimes. Please don’t remember me as this—a woman lying in bed who can’t do anything for herself. Remember me as your mother—the woman who raised you and took you to get ice cream after your little league games.”

“The woman who taught me how to garden.” More tears leave me. I lift her hand to press a gentle kiss against her hand. It’s growing colder. “I’m grateful to have had you as a mother. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”

“I love you, my sweet Leo.” She blinks the tears away. “More than all the stars in the universe.”

A sob leaves me. I release her hand and bend forward until my forehead rests on her chest. I can’t stop the tears that leave me now. Her weightless arms wrap around me, and she musters enough strength to hold me tight. We stay like this for a while. I’m not sure how much time has passed, but I’ve stopped crying.

Her heartbeat is slow, and there is a soft thump behind her chest. I raise my head to see that she has her eyes shut, but when she feels my movement, they open at a slow pace. She smiles down at me, sleep written all over her face.

“I think I’m going to take a nap,” she says in a dry voice.

I remove myself from her so she can be more comfortable. Standing from the bed, I sit in the chair my father had been seated in. It’s close enough to the bed that I can still hold her hand.

“Leo, you don’t have to stay here while I sleep.” Her head falls to the side to look at me.

“I’m not leaving your side.”

She keeps her eyes on me. They are so full of love, not only for me but for the rest of our family. For the life she lived and is going to leave behind. Pride shines in them, and the glowing light disappears as she shuts her lids.

As I watch her fall into sleep, my eyes grow heavy from the tears I shed, and it’s hard to keep them open. They shut as I sink into sleep beside my mom.

My eyes flutter open, and I am still feeling exhausted from today's emotions. I couldn’t have been asleep for long since the outside light remained the same when I got here.

I’m still the only one in the room with Mom. The others are probably still outside or in the living room, waiting for the word to come back up.

I glance over at my mom. Her face looks peaceful but pale. I smile, wondering what she is dreaming about. Hopefully, it will be something better than what she is currently dealing with.

My eyes drop to where our hands are connected. The soft grip she had on me has now loosened, and her fingers are no longer wrapped around mine. They lie limp in my hold.

And she is freezing.

I jolt forward in the chair, gently squeezing her hand. “Mom?”

She doesn’t respond. She stays still, lying there looking in peace.

“Mom?” The tears come back when she doesn’t move. “Mom… come on, wake up.”

She doesn’t budge.

I stand up, dropping her hand and cupping her face. It moves too easily in my hands.

“Mom?” I choke out the word, and a sob lodges inside my throat. I lean down and press my ear to her chest. The soft thud of her heart beating isn’t there anymore. “No, no, no...”

This can’t be happening. I remove my head, my hand coming up to her neck, searching for a pulse to find nothing.

I step back, my hands fist in my hair. “No, no, no...” I sit back down on the bed, pulling her into me as I hug her close to my body. Rocking back and forth, I yell out in agony, “Dad!”