AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah baby, we are. I’m fucking tired, let’s get this over and done with and go home.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Over and done with? Damn, don’t you have a way with words?”
I know this is just her putting on a brave face, she hates feeling the hurt and the pain. She buries it until she has to deal with it and then when she does, she feels it ten times worse. The night of Lacey’s funeral, I found Mia in the bathroom of our hotel room, her knees curled into her body as she lay on the floor sobbing. The pain pouring out of her with every breath she took. I know that she’s cried for her mom, but that’s all she’ll allow herself for now, until the time comes when she has to grieve. Then I’ll be there to make sure she doesn’t break.
I open the door to Mom’s room and immediately Mom’s head turns to face us. As soon as she sees Mia she holds out her arms and Mia doesn't hesitate to walk into them, being careful as she wraps her arms around my mom.
"We're not staying long. You need to rest and so does Mia, she wanted to check in on you. Make sure you're okay."
Mom tsks. "Darling girl I'm okay. It'll take more than a bullet to stop me. I'm sorry about your mom, if you ever need anything all you have to do is ask."
"Thank you, Marline. I'm glad you're okay."
“Mom, have you seen Dad? Mia wants to check on him before we leave too.”
She shakes her head, “No, I haven’t. He left when you went back to Mia. He’s not been back since.”
I step outside her room and call him, he answers straight away. “Where are you?”
“I’m outside, is Mia okay?”
“Yeah, she can’t wait to get home. She wanted to check on you and Mom, she’s with Mom now.”
“I’m fine, she doesn’t need to check up on me.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you know Mia, that’s not going to work.”
He sighs. “Fuck, okay, meet me outside when you’re finished.”
I roll my eyes, he’s being a fucking pussy not wanting to be around Mom. “We’ll be down in a few minutes.” I end the call and walk back inside Mom’s room.
“Did you find your father?” Mom asks.
“Yeah, he’s waiting outside for us.”
Mom laughs. “Yeah, I think your father is a bit jittery around me. I don’t understand why, it’s not like I was the one to betray him. I was faithful in our marriage.”
Christ. “Now isn’t the time Mom.”
She shrugs. “It’s the truth, the man is a coward. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
I glance at Mia, she’s looking down at her hands, her lips pulled into a thin line. She’s trying her best to keep quiet. “Mom, now isn’t the damn time,” I say through gritted teeth.
Mom realizes what she’s said and looks sheepishly at Mia, “Sorry.”
Mia shrugs, “No need to apologize.”
“Come on, we’d better go and find Dad. Don’t want him to have something to complain about.” I reach out and take Mia’s hand. “Mom, I’ll stop by tomorrow, try not to annoy any of the nursing staff.”
She looks insulted. “I wouldn’t dare, I’ll be the best patient they’ll ever have.”
“Of course you will be.”
“Bye, Marline.” Mia says softly and I think she’s upset about what Mom was saying but she won’t say anything. She’s just not like that. As soon as we’re out of Mom’s room she asks me about Dad. “Is he okay?”
No he isn’t, I can tell by his voice and the way he’s acting. He’s distracted, his mind is elsewhere. “I’d say he’s as okay as you are.”
She makes a weird noise in the back of her throat. “That good huh?”
