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“Is your mother breathing?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. She’s dead.”
“What is your address?”
“10221 Ocean Breeze Court.”
“Okay, sir. Are you alone?”
“No, my family is here. Please hurry.”
Chapter 36
Tori
Brady ends the call, and his head falls onto my lap. My hands rest on the back of his head, and I stare absently at the wall in front of me. Who knows how long we stay that way – seconds, hours, maybe even years. It’s not until the sound of sirens out front drift into the room that either of us moves.
When we open the door to the garage, my eyes find Liv. My best friend. My sister. She’s sobbing on Harrison’s shoulder. When she sees me, she rushes to me and throws her arms around me, squeezing the air out of me. I don’t let go. I embrace her, hold her just as tight, and together we cry. We cry for the loss of her mother and we cry for the loss of a family, but more than that, we cry at the connection we have as lifelong friends. She needs me now more than she ever has, and I need her, too. Her life as she knows it has changed forever, and I hope our friendship can survive.
Brady speaks with the emergency personnel and leads them into the kitchen.
How does a family survive this? How do they put one foot in front of the other and get past it? The worst thing my family has faced was my mother’s affair, and I’m still not sure I’m over it, but it’s nothing compared to this. The three of them having to handle the betrayal and lies will be difficult, but the memory of today will haunt them for the rest of their lives. It will haunt all of us. I’m so angry with Sheila. She took the coward’s way out and left this nightmare for all of them to endure. I only hope they can stay together to do it, that they embrace how much they need each other.
When the paramedics come through the door with Sheila on a stretcher zipped in a black body bag, Liv jumps to her feet and drapes herself over her mother’s body. The two men wheeling the stretcher step aside and turn from Liv’s grief.
Liv is crying and screaming, “Why? Mommy, why? You didn’t have to do this. Goddammit! Why?” Liv begins punching the bag over and over, her rage fisting into the black plastic. “How could you do this to us, Mommy? I hate you. I fucking hate you.” The raw display of emotion is gut-wrenching. Liv is never going to get past this.
Harrison moves up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. He has to lift her to pull her away. As he backs up, Liv’s arms and leg flail as she tries to reach for her mother, all the while screaming the one thing everyone wants to know. “Why?”
The paramedics wheel the stretcher to the ambulance, and I watch as the men lift it inside. Tears fall from my eyes, and a warm hand clutches my shoulder. I reach up and grab Brady’s hand and melt into him. I don’t even have to look to know it’s him. He leans in and whispers in my ear, “I’m so sorry, Sunshine.”
I cry harder and turn to face him, staring directly into his eyes. “Never apologize for what that woman did, Brady.” Putting my arms around his waist, I hold him, and we cry together. It isn’t a long time, but enough to reassure each other that while life has changed drastically, our feelings for each other remain the same.
“The police need to speak with all of us. I’ve already spoken with them, and I told them I would send you inside next,” he says, and kisses my cheek softly.
I nod and go inside to tell them how Sheila Hunter murdered an innocent girl and devastated her family by taking her own life in front of them.
Brady
As we drive toward my apartment in L.A., the silence in the truck is insufferable. I hold Tori’s hand. She grips my hand tighter occasionally, but neither of us speaks. What is there to say? We ride out the drive in a thick, painful silence. The only thing I know for sure is I will never let go of this woman by my side.
After the police had spoken with everyone, they informed us they had to seal up the house because it’s a crime scene. We haven’t even showered. Tori and I are still stained with Sheila’s blood. The thought crosses my mind to check into a hotel, but how the hell do you do that covered in blood?
Tug didn’t speak to any of us. Just got in his car and drove away. Liv was still so emotional she could barely speak. Harrison took her to his place. I offered to bring her with us to my apartment, but she wanted to stay with Harrison. She wanted to be close to her mom. I understand.
A detective had me call Nate. They needed to speak with him. As Tori and I drove away from the house, we passed his Mercedes. As we slowly rolled past each other, we made eye contact. He’ll probably be arrested. He was an accessory. I almost feel sorry for him. He was never able to stand up to Shelia – any more than I could. Now it seems he’ll be the one to pay for her crimes.
When we arrive at my apartment, I take Tori to the shower immediately. We don’t talk, our breathing the only communication between us. I slowly undress her and then myself. I step into the shower, and she takes my hand, stepping in after me. I have the water as hot as it will go, like it will burn the memories from our skin, and wash them down the drain along with the crimson swirls of blood circling our feet.
Tori sobs, and her shoulders shake. When she looks down and sees the blood, she lets out a heart-wrenching sob, hopeless and overwhelmed. I pull her to me, hold her head tight against my chest, and cover her eyes with my hands. Like somehow that will help to remove everything from her mind. The water refuses to change color no matter how long we stay under the stream. I need soap. Letting go of her, I remove the cap from the bottle of body wash and pour some into my hand. I rub the suds all over her. The lather turns red, and I scrub harder. I squeeze the bottle above her head, and a ball of body wash plops onto the top of her hair. My fingers scrub her scalp and hair until the lather is bright red. Her eyes are closed, refusing to look, but her mouth is open and her lip quivers. Why did I let this happen? I should have kept everything to myself.
I move her under the water and rinse her hair until finally the water runs clear. I did this to her, and I hate myself for it. I destroyed another person I love. She looks up at me and I turn from her. She still doesn’t speak, and slides the shower door open. She reaches for a towel, wraps it around her body, and leaves the bathroom.
Sinking to the floor of the tub, I scream. I scream for myself, for Tori and Vanessa. I scream for Liv and Tug, my real mother and father. I even scream for Nate.
Chapter 37
Tori
