AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mom, are you feeling better?”
Smiling, she stroked my cheek. “No, Luna. I do not feel better, but I do feel different.”
“That’s good, Mom.” I hugged her tight. “Different is good.”
“My baby needs me, and this time, I’m here for you. We’re going to get you out of that horrible place, Luna. Mommy and Jack will take care of everything.”
“What? Mom, no,” I said, releasing her. “It’s not that. I didn’t come here because of problems at school. I came because I did something stupid.”
She frowned. “What do you mean? What could you have done?”
“This time it really was all me. I... got drunk and kissed Victor’s older brother. It was over in a second and he didn’t kiss me back,” I rushed out. “But, I didn’t tell Victor about it and he found out in the worst way.”
“I see.”
I waited for more. None came. “That’s it? Mom, what do I do? Victor was raging. He threw me out of his house.”
“The only thing you can do now is let him cool off.” She guided me back onto the pillow, running her hands through my hair like she did when I was a little girl. “Things are said in the heat of the moment that become regrets in the cold of the morning.”
My arms curled around her, as if maybe if I squeezed her tight enough, I could keep her here to stay. It’s been so long since the mom I knew comforted me, gave me advice, told me everything would be okay. I had come to accept that the day my sister died, I lost two people.
“How could he forgive me? It didn’t feel like I was keeping secrets from him. It was only recently I got used to the idea of being around him without fantasizing about strapping him to railroad tracks and kicking back to watch the show.
“There’s nothing going on between me and his brother. There can’t be for so many reasons. What was the point of bringing up a kiss both of us had to forget?”
“You made a mistake, baby. You’re young. We just lost W-Winter.” Her voice cracked. “This is a terrible time for our family, and you’re due a moment or two of bad judgment as long as it comes with remorse. When Victor’s ready, he’ll realize that and listen to your apology. One day, this will be one of those bumps in the road that you’ll look back on—thankful that it made you stronger as a couple.”
I sniffed. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course, baby. That’s why I’m here.”
“I missed you so much,” I said, eyes welling. “I thought I lost you too.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “For a while, you did. Jack brought almost a dozen psychiatrists into our home, and I finally let the last one speak to me. She made me see that I have another child that needs me, and I do not honor Winter’s memory by letting you slip away too.”
“I’m not slipping away. Mom, I’m fine.” That would’ve sounded more convincing if I wasn’t bawling on her lap like a little girl.
“You’re not fine. I took my eye off you, Luna. I let you enroll in that horrible, disgusting place. Then, I let Jack talk me into this ludicrous arranged marriage. I hope you and Victor make up, but even if you do, you’re both much too young to be thinking of marriage.
“I let too much go on while I hid in this bedroom, Luna, but no more. We’re withdrawing you from that school and putting an end to this marriage nonsense.”
“B-but, Mom,” I stammered. “I can’t drop out of Regalia U. The semester already started. Jack paid all that money, and I made friends. I can’t just—”
“Shhh.” Mom kissed my temple. “Don’t argue with me, Luna. My mind is made up. That place will not take another one of my girls. Now up,” she said. “Winter’s garden is starting to wilt. We’ll spend the morning weeding and planting new flowers. For your sister. How does that sound?”
“Okay,” I replied, voice small.
I was helpless to stop her gathering me up and taking me down to the kitchen where Jack was in the process of burning our breakfast. I stood silent as she told him my marriage to Victor Wilson was off and I was withdrawing from Regalia U.
It struck me as I kneeled in the dirt that Saylor, Everleigh, Iris, and the others didn’t need to harass, taunt, bully, and beat me to get me out of the university and away from Victor.
All they had to do was wait.
I BOUNCED ON THE BALLS of my feet, keeping my hands up.
“I don’t have a choice, Lucien. There’s nothing I can say that’ll convince her to let me stay in Regalia and I can’t blame her. I hate this place as much as she does. I mean, she’s finally out of her room. There... There was a time right after we lost Winter that Mom was on suicide watch.” My lips trembled. “We found her in the bathroom just sitting there, holding a razor.
