AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was going back on her word.
“What the fuckdo you mean I have to stay another six weeks?” I practically growl, coming to a halt just where the paths break off into those leading to the bungalows. “Fucking hell, Mel, we had a deal.”
She sniffs, and there’s a jostling sound, like maybe she’s switching ears, or wiping her face.
I try to feel guilty, I do. But it’s hard to do that, when I’m pretty sure I’ve already reached my quota of remorse.
I’m tapped out.
All that’s left now is festering resentment.
“I know,” she says in a small voice.
“Then let me come home,” I beg, my voice breaking. Staring aimlessly around my surroundings, I can feel my heart rate picking up. My chest squeezing. This can’t be happening, not again.
“I just… I need you to do this. A few more weeks can’t hurt—”
“A few more weeks?! Mel, I’ve been in rehab for almost three months straight. I don’t—”
“Ninety day stays are perfectly normal.”
I scoff. “Who told you that? Tim?”
At the mention of her father, she hisses, “No. No, I looked it up. Spoke with your doctor. Spoke with the staff there—”
“Here? Mel. Jesus Christ.”
“I’m sorry, okay, but I think I have every right to hear about how you’re doing.”
“I can tell you how I’m doing,” I grit out, smacking my chest.
“And I don’t trust you!” she shouts.
I freeze mid-step, my shoulders dropping.
Now she’s outright crying on the other end of the line, and all I can do is stand here at a loss.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take a deep, measured breath, reining in my temper. Fighting with her is not going to do me or anyone any good.
“Melody,” I say, “ninety days is perfectly warranted for some cases, I don’t refute that.” I infuse as much understanding and patience into my words as I can. “It made sense five years ago. But this time, this time I—”
“Stop telling me it wasn’t that bad this time!” she says in a guttural voice. “I don’t care how much you were drinking, or how easy it was this time for you to sober up. You nearly killed our baby, Nolan! She could’ve died. If I didn’t get home—” Her voice hitches, words breaking off on a sob.
I squeeze my eyes shut, nodding though she can’t see.
Memories surge forward all at once—blurred and distorted, wrought with screams and cries and emotion too heavy to bear.
I thought I was dreaming…
“I can’t make it go away,” Mel whispers shakily. “I want to, okay? I wish I could see past it and move on. But I-I c—”
“I know,” I say numbly. Hanging my head, I grip my hair, pulling until it stings. “I know.”
A whistle blows,piercing the air, yanking me out of my thoughts.
Shaking my head, I look up, freezing when I find Skyler standing a few feet away, staring wide-eyed back at me.
I scowl. I can’t help it.
