Page 45 of Until

She comes back into the living room and crosses her arms over her chest. “Where’s Mom? She didn’t answer when I came here after the restaurant either. I thought she was just avoiding me, but I guess not.”

“She’s in the hospital,” I say. Something in me says she’s putting on an act that she knows more than what she’s letting on. I let it go, curious to see how far things go.

“Hospital? Is everything alright?” she asks.

“She’s fine now, but it’s been a tough couple of months.”

“Months? And you didn’t tell me?” She turns to Ryan. “Remember that years from now when you have children, and she’s crying because they never call. Remember that she didn’t call her own mother.”

“Call you? I didn’t even know you’re still alive.”

She laughs. “Oh, you’re always so dramatic.”

I can feel the heat spreading over my cheeks. The poppy seeds in my teeth would’ve been better than dealing with this person in front of Ryan.

She looks at her watch, then lifts her face to look at me. “Should still be visiting hours. Is she here at Holy Cross?”

“No, she needed more care than they could give her. She was transferred to York Medical Center about a month ago.” Purposefully leaving out the rehab she’s now at.

“York? Pricey. Maybe you should share the wealth, Carina.”

Huh?

I ignore her and turn to Ryan.

“I’m sorry about all of this; please, sit, relax, and make yourself at home.”

“No, I should be going. It sounds like you really need to catch up with your mom,” he says, his brow furrowed.

“Oh no, you stay,” Mom says. “I’m going to visit my mother now while visiting hours are still going. I’ll be back later tonight. We’ll have plenty of time together, right, Carina? Ready for some mother-daughter bonding?”

No.

Before I can answer, she’s out the door. I walk over to the window and watch her go down the front steps, making sure she’s really gone.

“I’m sorry for just showing up at your door,” Ryan says. “I got your address and wanted to see you. She was here when I pulled up. She seems nice. She mentioned it had been a while since she last saw you.”

“A while? How about twenty-two years? I thought she was dead until recently.” I enter the kitchen, grab two bottles of water, and bring them back into the living room. Ryan is looking at the wall of family photos. I give him a bottle, and then open mine and take a long drink, wishing it was something stronger even though I don’t drink. “I realized today that I never gave you my phone number or anything personal. How did you find me?”

“By stalking you,” he says.

I was mid-gulp with a bottle of water. My eyes widen, and I cover my mouth out of fear that I’m going to shoot the water out of everywhere.

It doesn’t help that I can tell Ryan misunderstands my reaction. I put the water bottle down, and Ryan steels himself for what he thinks is coming.

Calming myself, I take a deep breath, then swallow with a loud gulp and start laughing.

“Oh my goodness, water almost came out my nose,” I say as I cover my nose and mouth with my hand.

“You really are perfect,” he says as he smiles.

I grin at him, not knowing what to say. Thank you? I know? So are you?

“So, really? Twenty-three years?” he asks. “She was acting like she sees you all the time.”

I shrug. “I would love to be able to explain that to you, but I really don’t know her. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want to talk about her right now. All of that was a bit much for me. Like I said, until a few days ago, I thought she was dead.”

“I’m sorry. This must be really emotional for you, then.”

---