Page 22 of The Broken Note

Mere inches away from a drug addict with nothing to lose.

As Viola sinks deep into slumber, I tear a path down the hallway. Thankfully, I see the bathroom door is shut, which means mom isn’t in my bedroom.

I throw the door open and stalk to the dresser. Shifting under my panties, I feel around until my fingers hit a velvet box.

Yes.

It’s still there.

“What are you looking for?” Mom’s voice echoes behind me.

I jolt and quickly shove the ring box into the pocket of my school skirt. Pretending to shuffle around in the clothes, I murmur, “Underwear. I want to shower before I change into my pajamas.”

“I see.” Mom gives me a knowing smile.

Tugging at the hem of my skirt, I clear my throat. “I meant it, mom. You only get one day under this roof. Go back to wherever you’ve been hiding the past few months.”

“Was it here?” Mom sits on the edge of my bed and bounces on the mattress. She eases back, arms falling behind her.

“What are you talking about?” I huff. Did she even hear what I said?

“Did you have sex here? On this bed?” Her smile gets a little more excited. “Right here?”

My nostrils flare. I can’t do this with her.

Turning, I stride for the door.

“He should have taken you to a nice hotel. Candles. Music. A little romance. You deserved the five star treatment, especially since you were holding your virginity tight with those pretty piano fingers.”

I put my hand on the door knob.

Turn.

Open.

“With a car like that, he could afford flowers at least.”

I stop in my tracks.

Panic seizes my throat.

I whirl around as my chest heaves in fear. “What? What car?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Mom!” I shriek.

She curls into the bed and closes her eyes. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day, Cadey.”

I stalk over to her and wrench her to a sitting position.

Mom yelps and claws at my hand. “That hurts!”

I don’t care.

My face bears down over hers and I hiss, “Whatever you think you saw, whatever you think you know about me, you’re wrong. You stay out of my life, do you hear me?”

“Strong, brave,perfectCadey.” Her eyes turn dark and calculating. “Did attending that fancy school make you think that you’re as privileged as them? Did you forget who you are?”

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