Page 71 of Repluse

“Hey, sorry about that.” There’s no hiding what I said, so I own it. “Do you want me to leave you to…”

“You can stay,” Frankie interrupts. “What’s up, Bec?” he asks just as my backup phone, which I left down here in the office, and Frankie’s phone, which is in his pocket, start to ring.

Sam reaches for mine, and frowns as he looks at the screen. “It’s your sister. You’ve got four missed calls.”

“Shit,” I hiss as I take it from him. “Sas?”

“Mila, it’s Mum,” my sister says solemnly.

“What?” I ask as the room spins.

“She died this evening.”

My hand reaches out for the desk, but Sam’s arms wrap around my waist and hold me against him. I get a weird pins and needles sensation rush through my body, and my legs literally give out. Sam lifts me and sits me on the edge of the desk, his arms caging me either side.

“W-what happened?” I ask on a sob.

“It was peaceful. She went in her sleep. One of the staff went in to check on her when they were doing their midnight rounds and noticed her arm out of the bed. They went to tuck it in, felt it was cold, and when they checked, she’d gone.”

“Okay,” I say on an exhale. “Okay, okay. What do we need to do?”

“The facility has a funeral home they use if the family has no preference. They’ll come and get her in the morning, then we’ll have to meet up and make the arrangements. When can you get to the city?”

“I’m here. I’m in the city. Can I see her tonight?”

My sister’s silent for a beat. “Do you want to?”

“Yeah, I think I do.” I start to cry as I say the words. “Before they take her, Sas, I want to see her.”

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay. She’s in a better place, Mils. She had no quality of life, and there were very few moments she was lucid and aware of her surroundings or who any of us were. For her, this is the best outcome. Believe me, Mils, going peacefully in her sleep is the way I’ve always wished for her to go.”

“I know, I know. It’s just the shock, but I would still like to see her.”

“Call the facility. I’m sure, as the owner, Logan can swing it that you can go there and see her.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll call them and see what they say. Either way, text me the address, and I’ll meet you at the funeral home tomorrow.”

“I will. Love you, Mils.”

“Love you, too, Sas.”

Sam takes my phone out of my hand and replaces it with a tissue.

“Really?” I question with a shaky laugh. “Could’ve done with this half an hour ago.”

Without a word, he wraps me in his arms and pulls me against him. “I’m so sorry, beautiful girl. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I close my eyes, breathe him in, and let my tears fall.

The room’s quiet for a long moment, then Frankie speaks. “I’m so sorry to do this, Mils, but we might have a problem.”

Sam and I both turn to look at him as he closes the door on a retreating Bec.

“Bec just let me know that Scott has contacted the club trying to reach Logan. I’m assuming it’s to tell him about your mum. Obviously, he won’t see his missed calls from the facility until he collects his phone from his locker later, but you need to get home and call him from your phone, otherwise…”

“No,” I snap. “No, I’m not calling him. You can pass on the message from Scott if that’s the club’s policy, but I’m not calling to let him know.”

“But won’t he wonder?—”

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