AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I force away my tears. “How did you miss the signs? I never would have missed the signs! I never should have put her in a home.” I finally let my tears fall as I lean back in my seat.
Xavier wraps his arm around me. “We’re going to get through this. I promise. She’s going to be fine.”
“She’s dying,” I sob. My mum may not be like most mothers, but she’s the only family I have. She’s been through enough – how is this fair?
“Her oncologist would like to meet with you to discuss her treatment options. Nobody has lost hope.”
The rest of the meeting is filled with information being thrown at me. When it comes to an end, I practically run to my mum’s room. Her smile is bright as I walk over to her.
“Savvy.”
I wrap my arms around her tight. “How are you?”
Whatever she was about to say fails to be voiced. Her eyes are cold as Xavier lingers in the doorway. Unlike most people, my mum isn’t enthralled by Xavier’s presence. Instead, she scowls at him and pushes me behind her.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Phoebe,” he says. “My name is Xavier Rivers.”
My mum ignores him. She turns to me with a wild look. Her eyes move to my stomach before looking back at him. “You’re carrying the blood of the devil.”
Surprise renders me silent. I haven’t told her I was pregnant yet. I shake my head. “He’s not the devil. He’s a good man.”
“They’re all bad, Savvy. It’s in their blood. He’s going to suck you dry.”
I shoot Xavier an apologetic look. “He’s married.”
She backs away from me. “It doesn’t matter. His spawn is going to kill you from the inside out. That’s what happened to me. The devil’s spawn grew inside me.”
Whatever remained of my heart, shatters at her words. My mum always made it clear she never wanted me. I was a living reminder of what they did to her. But the way she’s looking at me in disgust hurts.
“It was me that grew inside you,” I cry.
“It was the devil, and now he’s turned all my blood bad. It’s all bad,” she mutters.
She backs onto her armchair until her legs are tucked underneath her, and she stares out the window and into her delusions.
My feet stay rooted to the ground as I stare at her with heartache pricking my heart. I can’t move. I can’t speak. My tears silently stream down my cheek.
Xavier gently places his hand on my shoulder and forces me to face him. His arms embrace me, and I fall into them. Just like my mother, I live in my delusion; maybe someday, somebody will love me entirely. And if that day comes, I hope they hold me as tight as Xavier is.
15
Ifthere’ssomethingI’vecome to learn about Emery Rivers, it’s that she loves to host parties. She has been chattering about this Christmas lunch since September, and I knew there was no getting out of it.
I spent the morning with my mum. She was happy today and close to lucid. She loved the new jumper I bought her but was more excited about her Christmas dinner. She didn’t mention the pregnancy today, and I didn’t want to ruin her mood by telling her about the upcoming scan.
“How are you feeling? Has the morning sickness passed?” Emery asks.
This might be the first time she is dressed in colour. Her green dress is still true to her elegant style.
“Yes. I should be good to go.”
“Christmas without alcohol is going to suck,” Francesca laughs as she walks over and Emery leaves.
“This lunch is going to suck without alcohol,” I correct her. “Who are some of these people?”
“I don’t know. I only came because Xavier made me.”
“Why?” I laugh.
