AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She had sensed when her mother had approached. She hadn’t known at the time, hadn’t realized about the scissors. Instead, her mother stroked her back. “I’m sorry. So sorry,” her mother had whispered, the words so soft Celia doubted she’d really heard them.
“I’d landed on my stomach. So when the first stab came, it was in my shoulder. The same spot that my mother had stroked.”
Celia had tried to get away. Despite her broken hands, she dragged herself along the driveway the few inches she could manage. “By the fourth time the scissors stabbed into me, too shallow to do what my mother wanted, I just wanted it over.”
That was when the shout had come. The sound of pounding feet. A seventeen-year-old Malcolm had pulled her mother off her. Celia had never asked what he’d done with her to make sure she didn’t return. She didn’t remember a lot about the rest of that day. Just the feel of Malcolm holding her broken hand that she didn’t bother telling him hurt. All of her hurt, but that warmth from his hand had helped despite the pain.
“And so, I never went back to live with my parents after that day. In a way, what happened was supposed to happen, and it brought me to Malcolm. We’d never been close. I wasn’t around enough for that. Him even stopping by that day when his family never came over made no sense. I’m just really thankful for it.”
The room was silent. Celia didn’t lift her head, scared by what she would see on their faces.
“Thank you so much for sharing, Cece.” There was a creaking as the counselor shifted in her chair. “And we are so thankful that you are here today.”
“Even that’s because of Malcolm,” Celia admitted. “I was starting to have a bad spiral, but he somehow seems to know and is there.” He’d always been, ever since that day. Guilt often shadowed her thoughts because of it, and she’d try to distance herself from her cousin, but he never let her, not completely.
The counselor gently moved the session on, but Celia had a hard time focusing. Afterward, Jami stood, but didn’t move immediately away.
“You’re very lucky to have someone like that,” she said.
Celia lifted her gaze. “I know.” And she couldn’t claim that she’d done anything for it. She pushed people away. It was just what she did.
For the first time, she regretted not going with Trenton that day. It would have been awkward and uncomfortable, so she’d done what she normally did. Avoided it.
“I’m sorry. You must have to relive that day over and over again, and I made you talk about it.” Jami crossed her arms, pulling them tight against her.
“Actually, it’s not that day.” Celia wasn’t sure why it wasn’t, since that was the worst. Maybe it was because she had been so out of it after the fall. Maybe her mind had blocked it out to help her cope. Instead, the moment she relived the most was that first shove down the stairs. “And I was the one who chose to say something,” she told the other woman.
Jami stared at the ground. A tremor shook her arm from how tightly she clasped herself. “I’m still sorry.”
Celia wasn’t surprised when the woman turned away. She’d done something very similar one of her early times in group. Someone had shared a part of their story to help ease the frustration Celia herself was feeling. She hadn’t gone back to the group after that, had actually packed up and moved.
Jami left through the same door they’d entered together. Celia wanted to chase after her. It was as if a bubble of air swelled inside her stomach, urging her to go, to reach out. Her feet wouldn’t move. Celia’s jaw clenched as she shut her eyes. It was Malcolm’s face that rose in her mind. He would have gone to her, just as he’d been there for Celia so long ago.
She finally moved forward, running to the back door and scanning the garden. Not seeing the woman, she clambered down the steps, hurrying toward the iron gate beyond them. But though she looked in both directions, there was nothing to see. Jami had already rushed well out of sight.
Chapter 26
Trentonleaneddowntopress a kiss to his mom’s cheek. “That’s quite a tan you managed. It looks like the cruise agreed with you.”
His mom smiled at him. “It did, though being with your father was also a big part of it.”
Trenton’s heart squeezed as his father came up behind her and wrapped her in a hug. “I pay her to say that,” he said with a laugh.
Trenton didn’t bother to argue. His father always liked to tease. His cheer centered on his wife. Trenton remembered the year they thought they were going to lose her. He’d only been eighteen at the time and had withdrawn from his first year of college to help out at home. They’d all rallied around her.
Rachel’s oldest child ran into the house and her eyes followed the boy even as she hitched her toddler up on her hip. “Thanks again for picking me up, Trent. Even though it turns out I could have driven myself.”
He nodded, thankful that he’d gone over. “I’m glad it was an easy fix. You should have called me.” His younger sister had bags under her eyes, and he wanted to offer to take his niece again, but knew she’d deny him. Ever since her divorce, she’d been stubborn about making it on her own. He’d tried to honor that, and only called her every other week.
“Well, it’s fixed now,” his mother said. “What do you say to your brother?”
Rachel sighed. “I already thanked him, Mom.”
Their mom reached out to Rachel. “Let me have that little darling. I don’t get to see her nearly enough.”
Rachel hesitated, but handed her daughter over.
“You go in and talk to your sisters. Julia and Maria are already in the living room.” She turned away with the toddler in her arms and headed toward the kitchen.
