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I know it goes to voice mail when he blurts out, “Goddamn it.”
He starts to dial again, but Kyle takes the phone from him.
Surprisingly, Trey doesn’t fight him for it back. Instead, he sinks down on the couch, his face stricken with tears. I rush over, wrapping my arms around him, capturing his loud sobs in my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” I say over and over again while brushing my hand over his hair. “I’m so sorry, Trey.”
His face is red when he pulls away. “Mom?”
“She’s in the hospital right now. I’m not sure what’s going on, but she’s alive,” I answer.
“I want to kill her,” Trey blurts out. “I don’t care what anyone says! She deserves to die for taking my sister away from me!” It’s sad that Trey knows his mother well enough to know she played a part in Gloria’s death—a destructive part.
I stroke Trey’s back while he attempts to contain his hurt. When he starts to calm down, I inhale a deep breath and look at Kyle. I forgot he was there while I consoled Trey.
I calm my voice, and it turns flat. “I need you to drive me to the hospital, please. I need someone to scream at, and that somebody is Claudia.”
Tears threaten his eyes as he stares at me. “I can’t do that, Chloe. Even if I could, you wouldn’t be able to see her since it’s an ongoing investigation,” he says, his voice almost cracking mid-sentence.
I ask, “When did it happen?” at the same time Trey asks, “How?”
He comes closer. “We’re not entirely sure yet. Claudia was driving. Gloria was in the backseat, unbuckled, and there was no car seat either. The details are limited, and normally, we aren’t supposed to notify anyone until all the details are confirmed, but I couldn’t do that to you.”
I nod—a silent thank-you. He nods back—a silent you’re welcome.
“This is all my fault,” Trey mutters. “It’s all my fault for refusing to go with Mom tonight for her visitation. If I had been there, I could’ve stopped it from happening. I could’ve protected my baby sister.”
I wrap my arm around Trey’s shoulder and drag him into me again. “Trey, listen to me. This is in no way your fault.”
It’s my fault.
I allowed her to go with Claudia against my better judgment. Claudia was doing better after I gave her the cash. She dumped Roger. She threw no tantrums, no asking for money and no threatening to take the kids. She was sober and excited to spend time with Gloria when I dropped her off at the trailer. She never mentioned them leaving.
Kyle kneels down in front of Trey. He’s fighting back his own pain. He didn’t know Gloria for long, but the expression on his face shows he cared for her.
“We don’t know if it’s anyone’s fault yet,” he replies in a soothing voice. “It could’ve been weather or vehicle-related.”
It was Claudia.
It’s always fucking Claudia.
Even if the accident wasn’t her fault, losing Gloria was. Claudia didn’t have her in a car seat. She didn’t protect her.
“Was she drunk? High?” I question.
“We won’t know anything until the toxicology reports come back,” Kyle answers.
“Don’t bullshit me,” I snap.
He sighs, terrified to tell me. “There was an opened alcohol bottle and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.” His voice softens. “I know there’s nothing I can say or do for you”—his attention moves to Trey—“but I’m here. If you needanything,I’m right here.”
No. He’s not hitting me with this nightmare and then ending the conversation like this. I will not be given theI’m sorry for your loss; I’m herebullshit. I want my goddamn niece back in her goddamn bed with her goddamn dolls. I want goddamn answers.
I jump up from my seat. “Watch Trey.” I sprint across the room and snag my keys. “I’m going to the hospital.”
I make it outside, nearly to my car, when Kyle stops me. I fight him again, soaking wet this time, as he drags me back inside, slides my keys into his pocket, and locks the door.
“Chloe, you can’t do that right now. As soon as the doctors give us the go-ahead, we can question her. Until then, it’s better for us to sit here and wait.”
