Page 83 of Whatever You Want

“She was supposed to pick me up for our morning breakfast and when she didn’t answer her phone…” she sobbed. “I walked over to the house and found her at the bottom of the stairs.”

I gasped. “Is she…”

Logan pushed to his feet at the panic in my voice. He was watching me with concern.

“She’s alive and conscious. She’s a little banged up, but she’s okay. She said she fell but I don’t think that’s what really happened.”

Maria had every right to question my mother. Richard has been drinking more, and my mother’s “accidents” were happening more frequently. I was going to kill that son of a bitch.

“How bad is it? Is anything broken?” I felt Logan’s hand on my shoulder.

“I think her ankle might be sprained. She’s sore, but I don’t think anything’s broken. I offered to drive her to the hospital to get it checked out, but you know how headstrong your mom can be.”

“Thank you for calling. I’m on my way.”

I hung up, grabbed my tennis shoes off the mat, and quickly slid them on my feet. I didn’t even realize that Logan was talking to someone on the phone.

He was finishing his call and slid his phone into the pocket of his shorts. “My parents will watch Madison and Brina. I know you want to get to your mom, but you’re in no condition to drive.”

“I’ll be fine. Can you stay with the girls until they get here?”

“No way. You’re a wreck, and I’m coming with you. Plus, if your stepfather did assault her, there isn’t a chance in hell I’m letting you go over there alone. I don’t want you or Madison stepping foot in that house unless I’m with you, understood?” He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “Ava, listen to me. My parents are already on their way. I’m sending a couple of officers to the house now.”

I let out a sigh of relief. She was going to be pissed at me, but I was past caring at this point.

When we pulled onto her street, I immediately spotted two police cruisers at the end of the driveway. Logan squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring nod. It was comforting having him with me.

Walking inside, I wasn’t sure what I would find, but there was no broken glass or tipped-over furniture. There wasn’t a thing out of place.

“Mom,” I called out, looking over at the bottom of the stairs where Maria said she had fallen.

“I’m in the kitchen.”

When I rounded the corner and saw her sitting at the table in one piece, I sighed with relief. Maria was next to her, giving the female officer her statement.

I bent down in front of her, looking her over for injuries. She winced when my hand landed on her ankle. “It’s just sprained, not broken.”

“What about these?” I asked, trailing my hand along the blue and purple bruises dotting her arm.

“They don’t hurt. It’s just my ankle, and my hip is a little sore.”

“I think you need to get checked out by a doctor.”

The male officer came over and shook Logan’s hand. “We offered to call an ambulance but she declined.”

My mother shook her head. “I’m okay. I don’t need to go to the hospital. Maria gave me some Advil. I’m feeling better already.”

She wanted everyone to think things were fine. A lump grew in my throat at the thought of her resigning herself to this life. I wish I had done something sooner to stop this.

Logan cleared his throat and held out his hand. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we’ve met before. Logan Blake.”

She looked at me briefly and back to him. I could see the questions in her eyes. “Yes, of course I do.”

“I’m going to grab a first aid kit.” Needing a minute to calm down, I excused myself and made my way into the bathroom. Never in my life had I been so angry and filled with so much hatred. I needed to get myself under control before I went back out there.

My hands shook as I opened the medicine cabinet. I swore on Drew’s grave I would find a way to convince her to leave him, because if I didn’t, there was a good chance I’d be burying her in a grave right next to his.

After locating the swabs and bandages, I grabbed a washcloth and a hand towel and walked back out to the kitchen.

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