Page 53 of The Girl in the Woods

‘Which ones?’

Brenda pointed to a bottle and Laurie shook out two capsules. Carefully, she lifted her mother’s head from the pillow and slipped the drugs into her mouth, using the cold tea to help wash them down.

‘You must go to the hospital,’ she said, her voice breaking.

‘It’s too late, darling.’ Brenda clasped Laurie’s hand with her cold and clammy fingers.

‘Mum…’

‘My liver is failing. It’s time for me to check out.’

Laurie broke out in a cold sweat. What was she talking about, checking out? ‘You’ll get better if you go to the hospital. They’ll have everything you need there. You must go!’

Brenda took a long, labouring breath.

‘Don’t talk, Mum. I’ll get the paramedics to come back.’

‘No,’ said Brenda firmly, using every ounce of breath she could force from her lungs. ‘Promise me–’ Brenda coughed forcefully, blood spilling from her open lips.

Laurie lifted her body slightly. God, she was so light. Why hadn’t she noticed? Gently, she wiped away the blood from her lips. The wetness of her tears fell onto her mother’s nightie. ‘Please don’t try and talk,’ Laurie begged.

‘You’ll stop drinking. Promise me, Laurie.’

‘I promise. Now, will you please go to the hospital?’

Brenda fell back onto the pillows and sighed. ‘I’ve got stage 4 liver cancer. There’s nought they can do.’

Laurie dug her nails into her hand until they bled. Why now, why fucking now? Why the fuck hadn’t she told them? Anger swept like a hurricane through her body. That bastard that raped her, his mother wouldn’t die in squalor like this, would she? Oh no, she’d be in a lovely private clinic.

‘I’ve been waiting,’ Brenda panted. ‘To say I’m sorry.’ She squeezed Laurie’s hand.

‘There’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s me who should be saying sorry. I’ve been a disappointment,’ Laurie sobbed.

‘Oh darling, you’ve been the best daughter a mother could ever have. I let you down terribly. Forgive me.’

Laurie struggled to breathe. ‘No, you didn’t. You’ve never let me down.’

‘Forgive me,’ pleaded Brenda.

‘I forgive you, but you haven’t done anything bad. I love you.’

‘A bad hand of cards, that’s all it was,’ whispered Brenda.

‘Yes.’ Laurie wept. ‘A bad hand of cards.’ She felt the cold hand in hers loosen its grip.

‘Love you forever,’ Brenda whispered, closing her eyes. Her hand slid from Laurie’s, and at that moment, Laurie felt part of her soul leave her body.

‘Love you forever, too. Safe journey, Mum,’ she whispered, kissing her. ‘I promise with all my heart that I won’t disappoint you.’

Gently, she climbed onto the bed and laid her head softly on Brenda’s chest, clasping her hand.

Anika peered tearfully around the door, slid down the landing wall, and cried silently for fifteen minutes before entering the bedroom. Then, with the gentleness of an angel, she led Laurie away from her mother’s body.

‘God has her now,’ she said softly. ‘She’s free from pain.’

Laurie nodded tearfully. She couldn’t tell Anika she didn’t believe in God and angels, only in good and evil. Her mother had been good, and he was evil. He should be the one suffering.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

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