Page 203 of Naughty Nelle

CHAPTER 12

Lady Germaine is buried the next morning in a simple ceremony just outside The Enchanted Forest. Everyone at Faraway attends, staff and inmates alike. Winnie’s husband is also there. All activities, including therapy sessions, have been suspended.

Winnie and I flank Elz, holding her up by the arms for support. Her face is spotted, and her eyes are swollen-red from crying. She looks awful. Sasperilla stands by herself, twirling her curls. She looks bored.

In his eulogy, Dr. Grimm calls Lady Germaine “a beautiful, kind woman who loved her daughters more than anything.” Maybe, he never met her.

“Would anyone like to say something?” he asks at the conclusion of his tribute.

Elz bursts into tears once again. “Poor Cinderella lost her mother, and I was so mean to her. Do you think she can ever forgive me?”

Sasperilla furrows her brows. “Puh-lease. She should be apologizing to us for screwing up our lives!”

Grimm smiles. Seriously, how can he be smiling at a time like this?

“Elzmerelda, by acknowledging your dysfunctional behavior and asking for forgiveness, it shows you’re on your way to a full recovery. You’ll be ready to leave Faraway soon.”

“I just want my mother back!” Elz wails.

“Get over it!” snaps Sasperilla. “Mother was a bitch, and you know it!”

“How could you say that?” Elz croaks. “Everything she did, she did for us.”

Sasperilla breaks into jeering laughter. “You’re so pathetically naïve, Elzmerelda. Everything she did, she did for herself!”

Elz presses her hands against her ears and sings “lalala” as loud as she can, attempting to drown out Sasperilla’s voice.

“I know you can hear me,” taunts Sasperilla. “Honestly, do you really think Mother wanted us to marry royalty so that we could live happily ever after?”

Elz sings louder.

“Duh! She only wanted to keep herself out of the poorhouse.”

Poor Elz is close to collapsing. I can’t hold back any longer. Someone’s got to protect Elz from her despicable sister.

“You don’t really know what a self-centered, wicked mother is!” I lash out.

“And you do, Miss Know-It-All?” sneers the skinny bitch. “Why don’t you tell us more about Mommy?”

I’m trapped by my own words. I don’t want to talk about my mother. Not now! Not ever!

But Grimm gloms on to the idea. “Yes, let’s talk about our mothers. Who would like to share?” His eyes jump from face to face before landing on mine.

A giant knot forms in my stomach. I’m not sharing.

To my relief, Hook steps forward. “I loved my mother.” His trembling voice surprises me. “She deserved a better life.”

“Why is that?” asks Grimm.

Hook’s eyes wander into space and grow watery. Can Mr. Macho actually be on the brink of tears?

Shrink swoops in and looks straight at him. “You grew up in a noble house that seemed normal. But inside, it wasn’t, James; was it?”

Hook lowers his head. “My father drank.”

“A lot?”

Hook nods.

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