Page 35 of Holden’s Resurrection

Stuck her nose in the air like those of us beneath her stank.

God, really?

“What’s this, Charlotte, why are you being difficult?”

“Well, Father, since you asked, I’ll tell you. I’m being difficult because I made it clear I was done listening to Mother’s disparaging remarks about Holden.”

“That boy again. I thought we were long past mentioning his name. Your mother has a right to say what she will about the louse who left her daughter with child and ran off.”

When I hit my head I must’ve been transported back to the nineteen-forties when men used words like “louse” and “with child”. That was the only explanation for my father’s highbrow display. And make no mistake—that was what it was. All a show for the other people in the room. Edward Axelson had to believe he was the most cultured person in any given company and he didn’t care how he went about flexing his perceived superiority. While my dad needed to feel like wealth and class at all times, my mother had to feel like she was in charge of a room. It was her way or her way.

“My child was kidnapped,” I screamed and I immediately regretted it. Stabbing pain radiated from the back of my head around to the front, like ice picks were gouging out my eyes.

“Char—”

“Don’t talk to me. Get out.”

“That’s preposterous,” my father returned. “We will do no such thing.”

My eyes drifted closed, not because I couldn’t stand to look at my selfish parents any longer but because my head felt like it was going to explode. Pressure had built and the pain was becoming unbearable.

“Mr. and Mrs. Axelson, I’m going to have to ask you to leave, please.”

I didn’t need to open my eyes to know my doctor had come into my room. Thank God.

“That’s not going to happen,” Edward argued. “My daughter has sustained a head injury. She’s obviously experiencing an episode. I have medical power of attorney, you can’t ask me to leave her room.”

There was a moment of silence and I wondered if my doctor was contemplating all the ways to strangle my pompous father or if he was going to cave. I hoped she’d call security and have them thrown out. Maybe Kennedy could record it for me, so one day when my head didn’t feel like it was splitting in two I could watch it and laugh myself silly.

“Sir, I have every right to ask you to leave when you are upsetting my patient. Furthermore, the medical power of attorney no longer applies. Charlotte Towler is awake and cognizant. Now, if you’d please exit the room, I need to examine her.”

“I’m not leaving.” My father stubbornly dug in.

“Then you leave me no choice but to call security and have you escorted out. However, I must warn you, if that happens, you will not be allowed in for the duration of your daughter’s stay.”

“I want to speak to the hospital administrator.”

“Certainly. If you’d like to wait in the waiting room, I will page Dr. Blackburn and ask her to come down.”

“I will—”

“Leave, Father,” I croaked. “I don’t have the energy to deal with you and Mother.”

“Char—”

“Leave. This isn’t about her and what her friends will think. This isn’t about you and paving her way to get her what she wants. This is about my child. I’m scared to death, my head hurts, I want to see my daughter, and I’m stuck in this bed. For once, please listen to me and take her and leave.”

“We’ll be at the hotel,” my father clipped.

“Edward,” Zoe snapped.

“Come, dear, Charlotte needs her rest.” I opened my eyes, shocked at my father’s acquiescence. “When Faith arrives, we’ll come to pick her up. She will be staying with us.”

There it was. He wasn’t accepting my wishes, he was maneuvering to get control.

Um. No. That wasn’t happening, either.

“That won’t be happening. Faith is staying with me. I appreciate you making the drive up, but as you can see, I’m fine. Holden is bringing Faith home and when she gets here, she will not be leaving my sight. You should head home.”