Page 96 of Winning the Nightcap

Aiden brings me back to the present as he lets out a heavy sigh over my head. “Don’t look now, but your star student is about to earn a time-out,” he says.

I turn to see Hop’s snout running along the edge of the food table across the lawn, his tongue slipping out to steal pretzels and whatever else is in reach.

“Hop, leave it,” Aiden says with as much authority as he can manage, marching over to try to reign in the eager pup. I laugh as I watch Aiden begin to chase him around the yard when his cues fail. At least this time, it’s only pretzels.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Aiden

“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any improvement with the new medications,” the nurse says calmly, the unspoken apology clear in her tone.

Calm being the exact opposite of what I’m feeling right now, back in the nurse’s office with Evie sitting at my side. Frustration, helplessness, anger, and guilt all swirl in my gut, making it hard to breathe. I’m sick of getting bad news. I hate that it brings up all this shit I don’t want to feel. I bury it all down, getting control of my emotions before I speak.

“What else can we do?” I ask.

“The doctor will be here tomorrow, and we can ask her about adjusting your mother’s medications again, if you’re in agreement,” she explains.

“Yes, let’s keep trying,” Evie says with determination. Neither of us want to accept how little we can change what’s happening. How quickly Mom continues to slip away from us.

“Okay. I’ll call you afterward to update you and we can meet again to plan next steps.”

The Aviators’ schedule is packed with a double header tomorrowand a road trip after that. I know I won’t get time with Mom for a few days.

Evie and I join her in her room, where she’s sitting in her chair quietly watching a show.

“Hey, Mom,” Evie says softly, sitting in the chair next to her, reaching to hold her hand.

Mom’s gaze sweeps over her slowly and a soft smile appears beneath the fog of confusion surrounding her.

“Hi, Mom, what are you watching?” I ask, wanting to keep the topic of conversation neutral since I’m not sure where she’s at today.

My voice seems to startle her, and when she turns to look at me, her jaw drops in shock.

“What are you doing here? I told you I was leaving. I’m taking Aiden and Evie with me. We have nothing more to talk about,” she yells at me.

When I register her words, I’m left speechless. The room blackens at the edge of my vision.

Does she…does she think I’m him? My father?

If Evie and Mom were the same age, they’d be confused as twins for how much she takes after her.

I’m not as lucky.

I still have the old photos of him. I’ve looked him up on social media a few times over the years. I’m not stupid. I know I look like him no matter how much I wished that wasn’t true. The resentment has festered at how unmistakable the resemblance between us is.

Mom is clearly confused about what year it is and where she is. That disturbing fact is barely able to register in my mind since all I can think about is how she’s unable to distinguish me—her own son—from the hurtful man from our past.

Fuck, I’m gonna be sick.

I can feel my insides shredding into pieces right before numbnesssweeps over me.

My mom continues yelling at me, demanding I leave. She’s roaring her grievances fiercely, fighting a nonexistent threat…or at least one that’s long since been buried in our past.

I can’t make out any more of her words as everything around me blurs. I’m vaguely aware of myself taking several unstable steps backward out of the room and into the hall. I turn and lean my back against the wall outside her door, before my knees give out, and I slide to the floor in a heap.

Staff members rush into Mom’s room. I listen as Evie and the nurses try to calm her and reassure her that everything’s okay. After a few minutes, my brain isn’t able to comprehend anymore. The roaring static in my head drowns the noise around me. I can feel my mind and body shutting down.

I’m not sure how much time passes before Mom eventually falls quiet and Evie steps out into the hall, sitting down next to me.

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