For the first time since she’d given it to me, I took the necklace off and lay on my bed and closed my eyes.
My heart was aching, my head was full, and the weight of the world’s worries could wait until I woke up again.
I needed to be alone, truly alone. If I was going to survive this, I needed to do it on my own terms.
And I would. Tomorrow.
Chapter 11.
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was dropping out of the sky. I’d slept longer than I’d expected. I scrubbed my hand over my face then the lack of my mother hit me like I was missing a limb.
Bolted upright. “Where is it!”
I no longer had the locket in my hand, and it wasn’t on the bed side table where I’d put it. Panic raced through my veins and I rolled off the bed; landing on my knees on the carpet and frantically scrabbling around the blankets for the necklace.
“Shit!” It was nowhere to be seen.
I closed my eyes and focused on the energy of the necklace. It was close by. I could still feel it. No-one had taken it from me.
I dropped onto my belly and surveyed the floor. Around my bed and under.
And there it was.
I grabbed for the chain and held it tightly in my palm. My mother’s voice came barrelling over the link and into my head.
Ava! Oh my god... I thought I’d lost you.
I choked on a laugh as tears slipped down my cheeks. “You thought you’d lost me?”
I half sobbed with relief as I put the necklace back around my neck. Despite the intensity of having my mother around me all day, it was a comfort I wasn’t yet ready to be free of.
I was still angry with her for keeping things from me, for making things about her instead of recognizing that I needed help and not a lecture. But it was nice to hear her in my head.
So, what’s the plan now?
“Um... I’m not sure. Dinner I suppose.”
Maybe check in with your sisters first? I hope they’re okay.
“Yes! Great idea!”
I’d been thinking that I needed to talk to Bella earlier. I got up off the floor and, after making sure the bedroom door was locked and no one could get in, I sat on the bed.
I closed my eyes and conjured a phone inside my sister’s house, and one beside me. Once the link was complete, I opened my eyes, picked up the receiver and pushed the one button on the console.
It started to ring and a bubble of laughter caught up in my belly. I’d missed the ratbags.
“Hello?” Bella’s surprised voice came through the line and I clung to the receiver.
“Bella, it’s me.”
“Courtney! It’s Ava. Quick come.”
There was a shuffle around and I assumed they were both listening to me now. I should have created a speaker phone. Next time, I’d do that.
“How are you guys? I miss you.”
“We’re fine,” Bella said.