Page 74 of Lock Me Out

He can fuck around all he wants, but I know the truth. He’s happy. He’s relieved. Because I am, too. “That’s done.” I look around the table and ask, “But what now? We can’t keep you locked in here all the time.”

“Glad you see it that way, because I’m sick of this place. No offense or anything.”

“So what do we do?” Leni asks. “Do we stage a miraculous return from the dead?”

She’s kidding, of course, but her confusion is real.

There’s only one answer that works. It’s not easy to say it out loud, since there’s nothing simple about it. “We would have to leave town. Start over.”

“Go someplace nobody knows us,” Nix agrees.

If there’s one thing about Leni, it’s how realistic she is. She’s not one of those girls who’s going to get all emotional and throw a fit over what needs to be done. Instead, she chews thoughtfully,eyes narrowed as she stares out the window. “You’re right. That’s what we would have to do. Just to be safe.”

“And you would be okay with doing that?” I can tell Nix feels bad—that’s why he’s so unsure.

But she isn’t. “I mean, I’ll miss Piper, but there’s FaceTime, and I can always visit her. She couldn’t really come visit us, though,” she concludes with the closest thing to sadness I’ve seen so far. “But it would still be a lot easier than going around making sure I never mention Nix. Starting fresh is the only thing that makes sense.”

Scanning her face, he asks, “And you would be willing to do that? It wouldn’t be hard for you?”

“Honestly? I have some good memories, but there are a lot more bad memories around here. It’s time to start a new life—as long as I’m with you two, it doesn’t really matter where we go. That sounds corny, doesn’t it?” she asks, wincing.

Maybe it does, but it also sounds like the best thing I’ve heard in a long time.

“Wait,” Nix blurts out. “What about Mom?”

Of course. “I guess we’ll have to work backward.”

“What does that mean?” Leni asks, glancing at Nix. He only shrugs.

“We find someplace with great facilities for her. One where she can get everything she needs. When we find it, that’s where we move.”

It feels right because it is right. I see it in my brother’s grin and the light that comes into Leni’s eyes. It’s time to start over—the three of us.

No. Four.

“Let’s go tell Mom,” I decide, shoveling the rest of my food into my mouth. Now that I have a plan, a goal, I can’t wait to get moving.

“Mom?”I rap my knuckles against her doorframe, and she turns her head slowly from where she was looking out the window, sitting in a wheelchair. She can’t move around much, can’t get in and out of bed or wheel the chair from one place to another, but it’s still great to see her like this. She looks more like herself—like I remember her.

Her smile is just the same as it used to be. With a slight wave of her fingers, she motions for me to come in, then looks over my shoulder like she expects Leni, who follows close behind.

“I brought somebody else to see you today.” Because George got in the way last time. First, though, the way her face changes reminds me of the way I look. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t even hurt.” Leni could at least wear a scarf to cover up the marks George left on her neck.

Something tells me bruising is going to be the last thing on Mom’s mind once Nix comes in.

And he does—before I have a chance to warn her—because he’s never been very patient.

“Mom?” he whispers, his face mostly hidden by the hood he always uses when we’re in public.

Even though she can’t see much of him, her smile is joyful. He steps in front of her chair, then kneels in front of her, taking her hands. “Mom. Colt told me he found you. He told me you woke up. I’ve even seen you while you were asleep. But looking at you like this… I didn’t think it would make me feel this way.”

Her brows draw together as she reaches out, touching a hand to the side of his face—the side that will always bring the memory of what he did to end our father’s hold over us. Her mouth opens, and something like a choked whimper makes me cringe.

Nix covers her hand with his and shakes his head. “I am fine. There was an accident, but I made it out okay. Just a little marked up.” He presses his lips to her palm and releases a deep breath.

“We’re all together again,” I remind her, since she still looks worried. “That’s all that matters. And we came here to tell you we’re all going to move.”

“Including you,” Nix adds. “It’s time for a fresh start. They take good care of you here, but there are other places in other cities that are even better. We’re gonna get you back on your feet. You’ll be running marathons in no time.”

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