Page 25 of Kidnapped By My Mom's Ex

“You look great, Mom.”

She smiles widely and takes a deep breath, nodding. “It’s all about the mindset. That’s what I think. I need to remember that, and my mindset now is I’d like to make my pattycake some breakfast.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop myself from smiling. “You haven’t called me that since—”Dad died.

Mom rushes toward the kitchen. “You used tolovethat nickname.” If she didn’t run away so quickly, I might smile and reminisce with her, talking about how we came up with the nickname. It was Dad and I playing pattycake together, and I loved it so much and would go crazy anytime he wanted to play. That’s why that nickname warms me up so much, but Mom doesn’t seem to want to talk about Dad.

“How about some eggs?” Mom calls over. “Or look, there’s bacon here. Jamie won’t mind, will he?”

“I’ll have whatever you’re having, Mom,” I say, hating how her voice gets high-pitched about Jamie. My mind’s on the next steps. Mom seems content to exist moment-to-moment, but how does going home actually work? What is Mom going to tell people? Presumably, Jamie won’t want us telling the world about his involvement.

Whatever happens, it’s going to mean leaving Jamie. Even if I don’tfeellike he’s a liar, I have to look at the facts. Mom basically swore to me they were together. I can’t think of a reason for her to lie when I told her I’d understand. Surely, if she cared that much, it would’ve been better to come clean last night when I asked her.

Yet my feelings won’t leave me alone. Maybe it’s just the longing for Jamie. I want to do more with him. I want to sink into his arms, feel his strength wrapped around me, not having to worry about any of this complicated stuff.

Mom returns with two plates loaded with bacon and eggs. She puts hers on the coffee table, interlocks her hands, and says grace. Then, Mom tucks into her food with enthusiasm.

“When do you think we’ll head home?” she asks. “My poor plants must miss me.”

I don’t want to tell her about the metal across the door, sealing us in, the fact Jamie could leave for days if he wanted to, and there’s nothing we can do. “I guess we’ll ask Jamie when he’s home.”

“Home,” she says with a weird smile. “We’regoinghome, pattycake.”

“Yeah, I know. Just a figure of speech.”

She’s looking at me closely, almost like she’s guessed something, almost like she’d be jealous if she had. I’ve just finished my eggs when I hear thebuzzof what must be the metal retracting from the door.

“What’s that?” Mom says, looking across the room.

I shrug. “I guess Jamie’s home.”

Demon pads ahead of him. Jamie’s wearing a black, light jacket, the same color as the shadowy beard across his jaws. He looks at me for too long and locks his eyes on me, silently saying so much. He wants me. I want him. Need him. Buthe lied. How many times do I have to tell myself that until I believe it?

Jamie walks over to the seating area, drops into the armchair, and rests his elbows on his knees. “We need to discuss how we will sell your return home.”

“Sell it?” Mom asks.

“To the cops. Without implicating yours truly.”

“I was just thinking that,” I murmur.

Jamie smirks and shoots me a look like he’s proud. Then he remembers the game we’re supposed to be playing. He becomes serious again.

“I’ve got an idea. I’ll take you both out to the fair. You’ll walk from the fair to the road. Flag somebody down. The story is they left you a note, Lena, demanding that you bring ransom for your mom. You were terrified. You didn’t have the money, but you went to beg for her life anyway. They held you hostage, but then the men got into an argument. You couldn’t hear what they said. They were speaking Spanish, but one of them got shot. You were scared. You hid. Then you finally dared to sneak out.”

“Will they buy that?” I ask, knowing I need to get out of herefast. I can’t hang around Jamie much longer. Even now, with Mom right there, I want to grab hold of him, squeeze tight, and never let go.

“They may have their suspicions. If they run ballistics, the gunshot might confuse them, but they won’t be able to disprove it. I’ll need to tell them what you supposedly said to me on the phone, Lena. Simone, you can be honest about everything except the wallet and stick to the relationship story.”

I cringe when Mom leaps to her feet. “The relationshipstory?” she snaps. “It’s not… It wasn’t… It’s not astory. You can’t call it that.”

Jamie groans, seeming to realize his mistake as he massages his forehead. “Simone, I don’t know what to say. We were never—”

“Will youpleasejustbequiet,” she hisses. “All my daughter and I care about is getting home. If I have to return to that evil place to make it happen, then okay, Jamie, I’ll do it. I’ll tell the police whatever I must, butdon’t… just don’t…”

I wait for Mom to go on and outright challenge him, but she hasn’t said anything concrete. She hasn’t said,“We were together,” “We were in love,”or anything definite. I wonder what’s going on. It seems more complicated than I first assumed.

Jamie sighs, looking at me like a challenge, wondering why I haven’t got the truth from her yet. Or whatever her version of the truth is.

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