Page 50 of Crossroads of Innocence
Before Isaac could argue, Jude grabbed her sister’s hand and tugged her away from Isaac’s death grip. “See you around, Isaac.”
Laura latched on to her hand as she steered her down the hall. A ping of guilt resonated inside of her. She hadn’t told Wade she was taking off, but she needed to start supporting her sister any way she could, and that meant getting her the hell away from Isaac. Even if only for a few minutes. Maybe walking away would show her she had the strength to say no, to demand respect from the people around her.
“You okay?” Jude asked.
“I don’t think so but keep walking. Don’t look back. He’s going to be so mad.” A slight tremor shook Laura’s words, shredding Jude’s heart.
“I won’t let him hurt you. Never again.”
Frowning, Laura stopped and stared wide-eyed at Jude. “How did you know?”
“Honey, I know the signs. I see the bruise you’ve covered under all that make-up around your eye. And we might not have spoken in years, but I know you. Can see—and recognize—the fear.”
Tears streamed down Laura’s face and caused tracks of black to streak over her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do. Don’t know how to get away from him. I feel so trapped.”
“I’m here now. I want to help you in any way I can, if you’ll let me.”
Laura bit her bottom lip, gaze cast downward. “I... I want to believe you but I don’t know if I can trust you.”
Jude absorbed the blow, hating how much her decision had cost her. But right now, this wasn’t about her, and she needed to step up and be the big sister Laura deserved. “Is there anyone you do trust?”
“Mom,” Laura said with small shrug.
Jude couldn’t stop her humorless snort. “Really? Because I don’t.”
Laura finally made eye contact. “She’s been through a lot too, you know. Just like all of us. Dad doesn’t make her life easy. Never has.”
“She should have stood up to him. Should have protected us.”
“Like you protected me?” Laura asked.
Jude flinched. “Fair point. But I was just a kid. She wasn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean making tough choices has been any easier for her. You leaving…that nearly killed her. Took away any fight she had left. You broke her heart. You really should talk to her.”
Now it was Jude’s turn to drop her gaze to the floor. A lot of anger simmered over her mother’s refusal to stand up for her, but it was possible she didn’t have the whole story. And if she wanted Laura to give her another chance, she needed to be open to at least having a very difficult conversation with her mom.
A flash of Velma injured and confused entered her mind. Wade would never have another chance to get his mama back—or at least the mama who’d raised him. She couldn’t turn her back on a chance to possibly reunite with her own. “Okay. I’ll talk to her, but first, I want to see Matthew.”
For the first time, Laura smiled, and something shifted inside of Jude. She may not have everything in her life figured out, but she had no doubt she was home to stay.
* * *
Commotion and voicesin the hall caught Wade’s attention. A quick glance showed him Jude and Laura had been joined by Isaac. He fought through the wave of anger demanding he interrupt their conversation and whisk both Jude and Laura away from that bastard. But this was Jude’s battle to wage, and he had his own to fight.
“Wade?” Velma asked, stealing his attention. She blinked rapidly, as if adjusting to a shift in her reality. “What are you doing here? What happened?”
A bit of tension loosened inside him. Speaking with his mama was always a little easier when she was more aware of who he was. “You’re about to go into surgery. You fell and need to get your hip fixed. Are you feeling okay?”
She furrowed her brow and the river of wrinkles creasing her forehead deepened. “No, I’m not okay. I didn’t fall. I was pushed.”
Her accusation twisted his stomach. “Mama, I talked to the nursing home. They said you tripped in your room. What do you mean someone pushed you?”
She gave him the same pursed lip expression she’d given him when he’d exasperated her as a child. “What do you think I mean? I mean someone pushed me. How else can I say that? And really, why in the world would I just fall down? I mean, I shouldn’t be in that silly nursing home anyway. I’m not an old lady. I should be in my home with my dog and all my memories.”
He deflated. Of course she hadn’t been pushed. Her mind had ventured down another shaky path. He’d talk with the staff who’d worked on her floor later just to be certain, but he had faith in all the people that took care of his mom. They wouldn’t put a hand on her.
A soft knock sounded at the door before the nurse stepped back in. “Okay. We’re all ready. If you’ll stay in the waiting room during surgery, a doctor will come out to update you as soon as possible.”
