Page 127 of Mistaken Intention

“Yeah.”

“Do you remember what happened?”

“Not very much, and to be honest, even when you had all your faculties, you didn’t remember her very well at all. Ella doesn’t either. She was only three at the time.”

“So she’s twenty-five now? The same age as Josie?”

“Yes.”

I nod my head, taking it all in as best I can. “Didn’t our father spend more time with us after Mom left?”

He snorts out a half-laugh. “No. He did the opposite. He hired Pat and Mick to take care of us.”

“Pat and Mick?”

“Yeah. Pat’s the housekeeper, and Mick takes care of all the maintenance around the property. Pat effectively raised us. She was more like a mom to you and Ella than our real mom was.”

I close my eyes, trying to picture her, but I can’t. “She’s not there,” I whisper, opening my eyes again.

“Don’t worry. She’s still here now. She’s helping Livia to look after Maisie.”

“So I’ll meet her?”

“Of course. She can’t wait. She’s been itching to see you. So has Ella.”

“But you’ve held them back?”

“We had to. The doctor told us to let you remember things for yourself before we introduced you to anyone else from your past.”

“I see.” I’m not sure I do. It feels unfair to everyone… not just me. But it’s not his fault. I have to keep telling myself that. It’s not anyone’s fault. “Why did Mom leave?” I ask, getting us back onto our original topic of conversation.

“I don’t know. She didn’t say.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I guess that’s not surprising. It probably wasn’t something she wanted to discuss with a child.”

Hunter shakes his head. “No. But she was here the other day. She could have told me then.”

“Sh—She was here? She came back, after all this time?”

“Yes. She read about your accident and wanted to see you.”

“Then why am I only hearing about this now?”

“Because Josie thought it would be too upsetting for you, and I agreed.”

“You asked Josie?”

“Yeah. I had to. I didn’t know what to do. Mom arrived out of the blue, asking to see you… and Ella. And I wasn’t sure what was in your best interests. I called Josie and asked her to come over.”

“Oh… that was the morning she dropped everything and came dashing over here?”

“Yes. She listened to what Mom had to say and then said she didn’t think it was a good idea for Mom to see you.”

“Was that her call to make?”

“Yes. I trusted her judgement. I still do. She told me she’d always put your interests first, and I believed her. I know why she said that now, but that doesn’t make it any less true. She only wants what’s best for you, Drew. You knew nothing about yourself or your past. The last thing you needed was our motheradding to the confusion. Josie told her she’d have to wait until you were well enough.”

“So she visited with Ella instead?”

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