Page 71 of Corrupt Idol

He raised his head and turned toward them. She sank to her knees as her legs went numb. He didn’t need to say a word. It was written all over his face.

Jesse rounded the bed and took Lynne’s hand. “What happened?”

“They said she had acute respiratory failure,” Dad said in a lifeless voice. “She was declared dead on arrival.”

“But… she was fine a couple hours ago,” she whispered.

Dad shook his head. “I should have taken her to the hospital. I shouldn’t have listened to her. She was always downplaying everything…”

She stumbled toward him and put her arm around his shoulders as he cried. She felt her mind disconnect from her body as she stood there, staring at Lynne who looked as if she was sleeping. Her gaze went to Jesse who stood on the opposite side of the bed. His eyes were glued to Lynne’s face. He showed no emotion, but she saw his hand trembling as it held his mother’s.

This couldn’t be real life. She wasn’t ready. Doctors came in. It took all of her will power to focus on what was being said. They were asking about what would be done with her body, forms that needed to be signed, and more that she couldn’t hear over the buzzing in her ears. Neither she nor Dad was in any state to act, so Jesse took over.

Thirteen

The house was deathly quiet.She stared at the ceiling and watched the first hint of sunlight touch her bedroom curtains. It had been three days since Lynne passed. That wasn’t enough time to wrap her mind around the fact that Mom was gone, but itwasenough time to prepare a funeral. Everything was moving at supersonic speed. Mom’s best friends showed up at the hospital and took care of all the funeral arrangements, which had been planned ahead of time.

Two weeks ago, her biggest worry was how she was going to pay her bills and where she would rent. Two weeks later, she had moved back to Texas and was attending Lynne’s funeral. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes. Life wasn’t fair. Lynne should have had more time. How could she be okay one day and gone the next?

She, Dad, and Jesse had been handling Lynne’s death individually. She tried to help Dad, but he sent her away. She was too grief-stricken to fight him on it. Jesse seemed to be handling it the best. He dealt with neighbors and family friends who came by to offer condolences. She hadn’t seen him shed a tear.

She rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom. She took a shower and stared at her swollen eyes in the mirror. That wouldn’t do. She walked out to the dark kitchen and put ice cubes in a towel and rested them over her eyes as she brewed coffee. She took her cup out to the back porch and sat on the swing. It was an overcast day with light rain falling, a fitting atmosphere for the day ahead. Her eyes stung as the conversation she had with Lynne came back to her.

Women are the glue that holds families together. I need you to promise me you’ll keep the family intact.

She had done a shit job so far. She took a steadying breath and sipped her coffee. If Lynne was here, she would tell her to dress in bright colors and put a smile on her face. She held the memory of Lynne laughing in the ocean in her mind as she went to her room and got ready.

She wore a black long sleeve top and an ankle length skirt with bright flowers on it. Her makeup was light and easily fixable since she was sure she was going to bawl her eyes out.

She jumped when the door to Jesse’s room opened. He was in his briefs and nothing else. He looked her over before he reached out and fingered her skirt.

“Mom would have liked this,” he said.

She gave him a tremulous smile. “I know.” Remembering her promise, she prompted, “Are you okay?”

“No.”

He stripped off his underwear and stepped into the shower. She quickly exited and went to Dad’s door. She knocked. Even though there was no answer, she peeked in. Dad sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in his suit, staring at the wall.

“Dad?”

He didn’t answer. She moved forward so she could see him properly. His face was completely blank and his eyes were staring at something she couldn’t see. He looked haggard and thinner than he had been a few days ago. She settled beside him and wrapped her arm around him.

“Are you okay?” she asked, voice warbling as she tried to suppress her emotions.

“No.”

Honest and blunt, just like Jesse.

“I can make breakfast,” she said.

No response.

“Do you want coffee?”

Still nothing.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

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