While I’m rummaging in the refrigerator someone else enters the room. I turn around half expecting to see Fisher, but it’s my mother.
“Don’t speak. Just listen. I lied to your sister, so she’d get you home. Don’t be mad at Yara. That’s why she’s not here. She’s nursing her snit. I’m not proud of that but sometimes a mother has to do what she needs to. Not for me, but for you. I know you think that I don’t know you and that I’ve got no right to be in your life, and maybe you’re right. I didn’t handle things the best when I left your father. However, I am still your mother. I want the best for all my kids. Running away doesn’t solve your problems. I know about you and Death and how things went with Fisher. I may not be who you confide in, but I keep tabs.”
“Okay. I’m here. Are you going to fix me? Tell me what I’m doing wrong with my life even though you can’t seem to figure your own out.”
“No. I made a lot of mistakes. I still make them and learn from them. I ran away and hid. Pushed people away. I pushed my own children away. I don’t want you to be like me.”
“It’s a little late to care.”
“Nothing in life is ever too late.”
I snort and grab some turkey and cheese to make a sandwich. I could eat cardboard, I’m so hungry. “You had Yara scare me half to death and rush me back here so we could have this heart to heart. I’m so glad you got that off your chest.”
“No. I’ve been staying around here and spending time with my boys. Your father. Yara and her sweet twins. I didn’t bring you back for selfish reasons.”
“What about Olivia and Emma? Where are they? Did you run out on them too?”
“That’s complicated.”
“It always is with you.”
“I’ve also been around to observe Fisher.”
I slap the meat on the rye bread. “What would you know about Fisher?”
“I know that he loves you.”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough. Isn’t that what you taught me?”
“He needs a friend.”
“He’s got friends.”
“The girl he was dating was murdered.”
“What?” I drop the butter knife I’d grabbed to spread the honey mustard on my bread.
“Hillary Combs was found last week with her throat slit. Same as that other girl.”
“Do they know who did it?”
My mother shakes her head. “No and they know it wasn’t Fisher, but he blames himself.”
I slap my sandwich together and the moment I swallow a bite, my stomach rolls. “Oh god.” I cup a palm over my mouth.
“What?”
I run to the trash can and spit. Then I gag.
I hear my mother pilfering with the turkey and giving it sniff. “There’s nothing wrong with this. The date is still good. I was the same way when I was pregnant with you.” She pauses and my blood runs cold.
I can’t be pregnant…can I?
Chapter Fourteen
Freya’s back. I don’t know how or why, but all that matters is that she’s here beautiful as ever. I’ve been waiting to get her alone since she arrived but she’s with her mom. As bad as I want to storm into the kitchen, sling her over my shoulder like a caveman, and never let her go, I know she needs to mend her relationship with Cate.
Every girl needs her mother even if she’s grown.