Page 64 of Corrupt Idol

He wrapped a burly arm around her head and kissed her temple. “You’re a good girl. Sweeter than I deserve. I know I’m not good at talking about all this stuff, but I’m glad you moved home.”

“Of course,” she said and tried to keep her voice level so she wouldn’t ruin the moment.

“Sometimes I feel like God turned his back on me. First your mom left and I had to raise you on my own. I had to ask others for help, which I hated doing, but I didn’t have a choice. Then Lynne came along and everything fell into place. She was so close to retirement. We had plans. I thought we’d grow old together and now…”

“Dad,” she whispered and squeezed his hand.

When he glanced at her, her heart tore when she saw his eyes were full of tears. “But I have you, don’t I?”

“Yes, you do.”

He sighed. “One day at a time, right?”

“Right.”

Once the sun sank beneath the horizon, they headed back to their rooms. They showered before they headed to the hotel restaurant. Halfway through dinner, Lynne grabbed her father’s arm and asked to be taken back to the room. When they tried to wave down a server to take care of the bill, Lynne told them, “Don’t worry. I just need to lie down. Enjoy your meal.”

She and Jesse watched them go. When he looked at her, she saw the same worry and fear in his eyes. Jesse took care of the bill before they made their way to their rooms to hear Lynne being violently ill. As she and Jesse made their way into the connecting room, Jesse hurried into the bathroom to help Dad support Lynne who was so weak, she couldn’t hold her head up. The toilet was covered in vomit so dark it was nearly black. When Dad tried to call an ambulance, Lynne insisted that she was fine and threw a tantrum until he agreed not to.

Violet sat on the edge of her parent’s bed and listened to the sound of Lynne sobbing as Dad bathed her. She dropped her face in her hands and fought tears.

“She’s okay,” Jesse said.

She looked up at him. “You know she isn’t.”

His face was grave as he said, “As good as she’s going to be.”

When Dad carried Lynne to bed, she rose to help. Lynne apologized profusely for interrupting dinner and ruining the fun.

“Don’t, Mom,” she said as she turned back the covers.

While Dad went to clean himself up, she slid into bed beside Lynne and curled up against her.

“Are you having a good time, honey?” Lynne asked in a raspy voice.

She flinched. Lynne was ignoring her bouts of sickness and focusing on them instead. It was easier than facing her own mortality. Lynne needed to know they were having a good time above all else.

“Of course. This place is amazing,” she said in an over-bright voice.

Lynne patted her arm. “Promise me you’ll come back here someday.”

She would promise anything to ease her pain. “I promise,” she said instantly.

“Good girl,” Lynne said as she reached for the remote. “What should we watch?”

“Anything,” she whispered.

Lynne played The Three Stooges. When Lynne laughed, she tried to copy, but knew she fell short. Her heart was lodged in her throat. Before Dad emerged from the bathroom, Lynne had fallen into a restless sleep. She listened to the sound of her rattling breaths and hugged Lynne’s slight body to hers and willed life into her mother. This couldn’t be happening. Her tears soaked the covers as she prayed over her Mom, reaching out to the God who had turned from her long ago.

“Violet.”

She raised her head and looked at Dad standing on the other side of the bed. Her lower lip trembled as she stared at his solemn expression.

“I’ll take her to the hospital once we get home tomorrow,” he said.

She swallowed hard. “Okay.”

He slid into bed on Lynne’s other side. “Get some rest, kiddo.”

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