Page 217 of The Encore’s Crown

“That’s a lot to take on.”

Natalia glances toward the bed. Ma is asleep with one hand curled beneath her cheek, looking more peaceful than she ever did in the spotless house Dad ruled.

“Maybe,” Natalia says. “But she shouldn’t have to recover with a total stranger.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think you understand what you’re offering.”

“I understand perfectly. You and Rithy need to go to Los Angeles. She needs someone here who won’t sell her pain, won’t treat her like a patient every minute, and won’t let her pretend she can do everything alone.” She sits back. “That’s me.”

“Nat.”

“I’m not asking permission.”

A laugh escapes Rithy and I glare at him. Natalia reaches across the table and takes my hand.

“I love you,” she says. “This is part of loving you. Let me decide what I’m willing to give.”

She's looking at me the same way she did when she stood between Ma and Dad. That steady, certain look that shows she's already committed. I look at the two of them and realize the decision was made before I ever opened my mouth. Natalia squeezes my fingers.

“I’m doing it.”

I bring her hand to my lips.

“Yeah,” I say. “I know.”

Chapter 75

We Fight

Natalia

My phone rings for what has to be the fiftieth time today. I don’t even need to look at the screen.

“Hello, obsessive control freak.”

“Is she okay?”

I glance across the living room. Ma is tucked into the corner of the sofa beneath the yellow blanket she loves, staring at the television with the intense concentration of someone watching two women scream at each other over a seating chart.

“She’s fine. She took her medication, finished almost all her lunch, and walked to the kitchen without trying to abandon her cane halfway there.”

“I don’t need cane,” Ma calls.

Kiri hears her through the phone. “Tell her the doctor says she does.”

“He says the doctor says you do.”

“The doctor is not here,” Ma answers.

“The doctor also says arguing raises your blood pressure.”

Ma points the remote at me. “You raise my blood pressure.”

I laugh. “She says she loves you too.”

There’s noise behind Kiri. A guitar cuts through something Ronan is saying, followed by Rafe shouting for everyone to shut up and start from the bridge again.

“I’m surprised you’re getting anything done in the studio when you spend half the day checking whether we’ve spontaneously combusted.”