Page 54 of Second Draft

A small, sharp breath is her only reaction. I’m behind her now, hands on her shoulder, but she doesn’t lean back against me like she normally does. Just holds herself stiff, her uneven breathing the only indication that she’s upset.

“When?”

“Two days ago. I’m sorry. I just found out. She’s at University Hospital in Rosedale.”

“Come on. I’ll drive.”

Layla shakes her head, staring vacantly at a spot on the wall. “I can’t go.”

“It’s your mom,” Kira says. “Whatever differences you had. They don’t matter right now.”

Something passes between them that I don’t understand. A look that speaks of secrets and regrets.

There’s still so much I don’t know about her, or about her family. Why she never sees them, or anyone other than Kira, for that matter.

It’s like she’s all alone in the world. Lost. Afraid. And I want to know why.

“Kira’s right.” I cup Layla’s face in my hands, and she blinks back tears when she looks up at me.

“You don’t understand.” Her gaze is on the floor, on anything but me.

“You’re right. I don’t know what happened between you two. But I do know you’ll regret not seeing her if she doesn’t make it through this.”

Silence stretches between us.

“Your mom would want to see you,” Kira finally says. “I can come–”

“No.” Closing her eyes, Layla rubs her temples.

“I’ll take you.” I brush her hair away frown her cheek. “And I promise I won’t leave your side. When my parents died, I’d been in an argument with my Dad. It destroyed me that the last words I had with him were spoken out of anger.”

“The difference is your parents loved you, and I’m sure they knew how much you loved them.”

“All parents love their children. Some just have a more difficult time showing it.”

She chuckles darkly, the sound sending a chill down my spine.

“All right. I’ll go if you really think I should.”

I kiss her forehead. “I do.”

She gives me a small nod, but when I see the panic and shame clouding her eyes as she starts towards the door, I wonder if I made the right decision convincing her to go.

Chapter 21

Layla

My entire body is shaking as we take the elevator up to the fifth floor. Not the small trembles that I feel when Carter touches me, but full out shakes that I can’t control. I ball my fingers into fists, and bite the inside of my cheek hard, trying to make it less noticeable, but I’m pretty sure everyone, including Carter can see my fear.

I hate that after all these years my parents can still do that to me. Turn me into a frightened child.

“It’ll be all right.” Carter’s arm is around my shoulder, steadying me.

I know it’s a bad idea bringing him here, but I’ve never needed him more than I do right now.

“Susan Harper’s room?” Carter asks the nurse at the counter.

She looks at her charts, then says, “Second door on the right.”

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