Page 18 of Release You

I froze. That was my mother’s favorite place. It was also the place where I’d kissed Nikki for the first time and then said goodbye, not knowing I’d never see her again. I wasn’t ready to see Mom’s Garden again. It was probably in worse condition than the hotel.

“Come on, Henry. You’re almost there.”

Right. I’d come this far. I climbed the rungs and shouldered open the manhole cover. I peeked out and felt as if someone had punched me in the gut. Of all the things I’d imagined I’d find when I returned to Cavalier Manor, this wasn’t even close to any of it. My mother was still here. Or at least a shadow of what she used to be was here.

A few months before Dad died, Mom had fallen ill. No one could figure out what was wrong with her. She simply didn’t have the strength or will to get out of bed anymore. After Lisa was found over Dad’s body, Jonathan thought it’d be better for Mom’s health if we took her to a place where she wouldn’t be reminded that her husband was dead. It all made sense to me at the time. What never made sense was that she didn’t want to see me. I’d tried for years to reach out to her, but eventually I gave up.

Later when Jonathan sent me to boarding school in Canada and told me never to return to the manor, I told myself it was time to move on with my life. Or rather, I buried my head in the sand along with my feelings. Why was Mom here?

“Now, Tessa, be a good girl and don’t move.” My uncle’s wife Francesca laughed. “I’m going inside to get your water. It’s time for your medicine. You know how bad your spellscan get when we wait too long.” She strolled toward the house.

When Mom got sick, Francesca had been the first one to suggest we send her to a hospice. Now she was here, tending to Mom? What the hell was going on? My gaze darted around the garden. It wasn’t dead, as I thought it’d be. Instead, it had new flower beds and a few lemon trees along the edge of the courtyard. How long had Mom been here? Months? Years?

“Go on, Henry,” Russ said after Francesca disappeared through the sunroom. “I’ll keep watch. But hurry.”

Mom sat in a wheelchair in the middle of the garden with a blanket draped over her legs. Her eyelids drooped as she jerked her head to keep it against the headrest. I rushed to her. I had so much I wanted to say to her.

“Mom,” I whispered.

“James?” She gasped and covered her mouth with a trembling hand.

“No. It’s me, Henry.” The roses in her lap fell to the ground when I knelt beside her.

Their fragrance puffed out like dust and surrounded me with Mom’s signature scent. She’d spent so much time in the gardens, she always smelled of roses.

“Henry.” Tears spilled down her cheek as she reached for me.

I closed my eyes when she stroked my face. After a few seconds, she let her hand fall back on her lap.

I took her hands in mine. “If I’d known you were here, I would’ve come sooner. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I left you alone all these years.”

“Go,” she mumbled. “You can’t be here. It’s not safe. Go.” She pulled her trembling hands away. It was a frail effort, but I lether go.

After all this time, she still didn’t want to see me. Why? The fear in her eyes said there was something else going on.

“Mom. Tell me the truth. Why do you want me to leave? Is someone threatening you?”

She closed her eyes and moved her head from side to side. Seeing her like this broke my heart into tiny shards. I should’ve come back years ago. I should’ve stayed with her and not run off like some wounded animal. All these years, I’d only thought of my own pain. Mom had been suffering too, alone. The pounding in my chest made it hard to think. All I wanted was to take her away from this place. I hooked my arm behind her knees.

“No,” she shook her head.

“Shh. I’m getting you out of here. But you need to keep quiet, or Francesca will call the guards.”

“No,” she said louder.

“Mom, we need to get you somewhere safe.” I let go of her.

“Henry, time to go. Come on. She’s already home. There’s nothing you can do.” Russ tugged at my arm.

My gaze darted between Russ and Mom. “I’ll come back for you. I promise.” I darted back to the tunnels with Russ at my heels. With my heart still pounding hard, I replaced the manhole cover and leaned against the cold steel ladder.

“That’s fucked up what happened to your mom.” Russ laced his arm through the ladder and let himself drop to the ground. “I swear I didn’t know she was at the manor. No one in town knows. I would’ve told you.”

“I know. God, I’m the biggest asshole.”

“This isn’t your fault.” He patted my arm once.

“What do you know about my family’s fortune?” I asked.

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