Page 1 of Four Times Forever

Chapter 1

Lily

Glass-shattering screams erupted from my mother like a dragon blowing fire. She pulled at her long silver hair, untangling the braids, her eyes red and strained. Well, at least there's life in them, I thought, wincing as her howls pierced me.

"Where's my husband? I want to go home. I want to go home!" Mom hopped out of her wheelchair and headed toward the exit.

I chased after her. She hadn't walked in months, and her legs were unsteady. Looking like she had just unstrapped herself from an electric chair and half her brain was fried. "Mom, it's okay. You're okay. You're at your new home." Exchanging a glance with a frozen, helpless Eric looking between the two of us, mouth agape, I knew it was going to take him some time to thaw out before he could help me.

Swallowing hard, I turned back to her and took her arm. We'd been down this road before, although it wasn't this bad the other few times she 'woke up' from her catatonic state. Those other times she'd pretend she didn't need my help at all, and ask me when I was going to move out of her home. A few days would pass before she'd calm down and get over her ego to thank me, fall into a depressive state over being useless and alone, and seek her escape again. I'd do my best to keep her away from the drugs and face her lashing tongue, while redirecting her attention to something fulfilling. She'd garden, I'd get a start on the cleaning while she helped every now and then. But she'd come across something that reminded her of all she lost and the best friend she made in catatonia would embrace her once again.

"Isn't it nice? Look, there's even a garden." I exhaled and smiled at her. "Remember how you wanted..." I was pointing at the view through the ceiling-to-floor glass windows when she wheeled around with her nostrils flared and her top lip curled.

Mom opened her mouth to yell at me but her teeth snapped shut. Her wide eyes were fixed over my shoulder.

Wondering what had her so spooked, I turned to see Ethan, Matt and Ryan. Assuming that she'd forgotten who they were, I reached for her in an attempt to soothe her, but she slapped my hand away.

The nurse was standing back after her similar attempt to soothe my mom almost landed her punch in the face.

"This isn't my home. This is some...some..." She tossed an accusatory glance at my men. "Your pimps bought this using drug money."

My what? Okay, laughter almost burst out my nose and I had to hold my breath and grind my teeth to hold it in. There was a scoff from one of the guys behind me and I let the breath ease out of my mouth.

Be fucking serious. This isn't a laughing matter, I scolded myself and cleared the amusement away.

"And they touched me." She put her hands in her hair and cradled her body in a hug. The horror in her eyes made my stomach turn. As those orbs started to go blank again, I grabbed her by the shoulders. I wasn't about to let her run away again.

"No, mom." I rubbed my hands up and down her arms. "They're not my pimps. They're good men. See? I'm getting married." Waving the ring in her face, I motioned for Eric to come over. He loosened himself up and locked his fingers with mine.

"This is Eric." I smiled, allowing myself to breathe.

"Hi, Mrs. Thornbread. I don't know if you remember me." Eric held out his hand, infusing some vibrancy in his words. She scowled at it.

Okay, not a great reaction, but it's a good sign.

Right?

At least she's reacting.

Eric pulled his hand back and rocked back and forth on his heels, his cheeks reddening. Eric, shy? In what world? Then again, these weren't normal circumstances.

"He used to be my friend in high school. He came back into my life a couple months ago? And these are his best friends. They helped me take care of you..." I gestured toward Ryan, Ethan and Matt who also stepped forward. She threw my arms off her and backed away from the crowd engulfing her.

"Of course I know who they are!" Mom shivered.

"Okay. It's okay." I left the guys behind.

Mom backed away further, jutting a finger out at us. "You took me from my home." Her eyes darted around. "I want to go home. Where's my husband? I want my husband!"

Like a biting slap across the face, I winced from her words. "Mom..." How could she ask for him after all he'd done to her? After he walked out on her? After he... I gulped, forcing down the sickness rising up inside me. If she knew that he kidnapped me for money, and that I almost died because of him, that would shatter her, wouldn't it?

Fighting the need to yell it at her and risk sending her back into a coma, I redirected my attention outside.

As I opened the sliding glass door, all six of us followed behind her like little ducklings trailing after their mama.

"Isn't the air so fresh here, Mom?" My throat locked up. Clearing past the obstruction, I took a chance and placed gentle hands on her shoulders, turning her to face the guesthouse we had just exited. "And look, this is all yours. Ethan and Matt got this for all of us. Isn't it so much better than our small house?"

She spat at the magnificence staring her in the face, that no one in her life had ever been kind enough to bestow onto her, and her disregard for my men's kindness and mine, all these months burned something fierce within me. No 'thank you for everything you did for me, Lily'?

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