Page 12 of The Secrets Behind Us

My mom giggles, but then a solemness takes over. “If I have some energy this week, I'll make some for all of you.”

“No worries, Ms. Judy. Only if you’re feeling good.” The nurse stands as she finishes up the IV, taking a look at the tube to make sure everything is working.

My mom hums and when the nurse is finished, she cleans up the trash and goes to leave. “Excuse me, what’s your name?” I ask.

She looks back at me. “My name is Sloane.”

“Are you normally my mom’s nurse?”

She lets go of the door and turns toward me. “Yes. I am.”

“I just want to say thank you.”

I don’t say anything else. She knows. She nods then leaves without another word. This is not a fun place to be. She was kind and gentle with my mother and if Ashley and I aren’t able to be here, I’m glad that she has someone like Sloane.

Once she’s gone, I look back over at my mom, who is lying with her eyes closed. “She’s nice. I’m glad you have someone like her as your nurse.”

My mom opens her eyes and looks over at me with a tight smile. “Yes, she is. But Hazel I don’t want to talk about this disease. Why don’t you tell me something to distract me?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe like how are things with you and Dexter? Your sister told me that you saw him at the bar the other night and then at the gym.” Her eyes soften as she looks at me.

I can't help it, rolling my eyes as my walls go up instantly. I'm a little annoyed that my sister told my mom about seeing Dexter, but I should've known.

“Of course, Ashley told you that. Well, nothing’s going on between us, he’s still mad with how I left things and rightfully so.”

My mom hums and nods, “Well, why did you leave like that?”

“Mom. I don’t want to talk about that. You know I couldn’t deal with the fighting and needed to get out of Rose Valley.”

I drop my head as guilt hits me, knowing that I'm not telling my mom the whole truth.

Placing her hand on my knee she gives it a little squeeze for comfort. “Hazel, you can tell me anything, I won’t judge you.”

It's as if the mask I've carefully made over the last five years breaks and my mom can see right through me. A tear drops from my eye and I wipe it away quickly. How can I tell my mom or anyone the real reason why I left? That someone is out there threatening me and has been sending me scary texts over the years. No matter what I did.

She sees my tears and rubs my arm. “Don’t cry, honey. You don’t have to tell me right now. I’ll be here when you're ready.”

Chapter nine

Hazel

As soon as I get my emotions under control, there is a knock on the door to the hospital room and then my sister enters. “Hey, Mom. How are things going?” Ashley asks as she sits down on the couch next to Mom's chair.

I shove her as she sits down, then scrunch up my face with a look of horror. “Eww…those are clean right?”

“Hazel!” My mom gasps.

Ashley shoves me back, “Of course they are loser. I just got here, my shift in the ER starts in thirty minutes." She then puts her hand up against her mouth as if she's trying to keep me from seeing, whispering to my mom, "I thought I would check on you before it started."

“Oh good. I was worried you were getting germs everywhere.” A shudder wracks through me at the thought, but I say it lightly hoping to keep this appointment from getting even more emotional than it already has.

“You girls. Let me tell you, if this cancer doesn’t put me in the ground, you two sure will. Now stop with this nonsense.” She scolds the two of us as if we're children again.

“Yes, Mother,” we both say in unison, then stick out our tongues at each other when she looks away. It’s nice to have this easy-going relationship with my sister. I didn’t realize how much I missed it since I’ve been gone. If only Dexter and I could put things behind us.

“Hey, Hazel.” Ashley brings my attention back to her. “A few of us girls from work are going to the bar tonight after our shift if you want to join.”

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