Page 82 of Isolated
“Okay, Mom. I’ll have a couple. But just so you know, I wouldn’t have had any problem talking to you about Iris without them.”
Standing from the couch, she looked down at me and said, “I know that. And I remember what that was like. I was the same way when I met your dad.”
As she walked off toward the kitchen, an ache formed at the center of my chest. It had been ten years, but it still hurt sometimes when I thought about him and the things my dad was missing. I would have loved nothing more than to tell him about Iris, about how happy she made me. I didn’t doubt he would have loved her for me just as much as it seemed my mom already did.
She returned with cookies, and for the next little while, I told her more about Iris. I didn’t want to share all the details—I wanted Iris to be able to do that on her own—but I gave my mom enough to satisfy her curiosity.
It was roughly an hour after I’d arrived at my mom’s house when my phone rang. Pulling it out of my pocket, I was surprised to see Iris’s name on the display.
“Iris?”
“Landen.” Her voice was ragged, filled with devastation.
I was immediately on alert. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m… I’m sorry for bothering you at work?—”
“I’m not at work right now. I left early today and cameover to visit with my mom. Just tell me what’s going on. Are you okay?”
I glanced over to see my mom looking at me with such concern. She looked just as troubled as I felt.
“Everything is falling apart.” The agony in her voice was undoing me.
“Where are you?”
“I just got home.”
“Okay. I’m coming right now.”
Silence came through the line.
I waited a few beats, but when Iris didn’t respond, I called her name. “Iris?”
“You’re visiting with your mom. I didn’t mean to?—”
“I know you didn’t. It’s fine.” I stood from the couch, sending my mom an apologetic look. She brushed off the guilt I felt with a wave of her hand. “I’ll be there in just a few minutes, sunshine. Just hang tight.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll see you soon.”
I disconnected the call and opened my mouth to speak, but my mom beat me to it. “Not another word. She needs you. Go. We’ll talk later.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around her. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course, honey.”
After telling her I loved her and saying goodbye, I was out the door in a flash. Then I was racing over to Iris’s place, wondering what exactly was going on to make her sound like I’d never heard her before. Not even the day she’d come into my office feeling so forlorn over her encounter with her boss had she sounded like she did on the phone today. I didn’t want to assume the worst or drawconclusions, but I hoped things didn’t take an even worse turn at work, because she loved her job.
Though I’d gotten there in what had to be record time, it still felt like it had taken entirely too long to get to my girl. And I knew things weren’t good when she hadn’t come outside or already had her door open when I arrived.
I knocked, waiting for her to answer, and each second that passed put me more and more on edge.
After what felt like an eternity, I heard the lock on the door. And a moment later, I was met by Iris’s red-rimmed, dull eyes and stooped posture. Her chin wobbled, and that was all it took for me to step forward, kicking the door shut behind me, as I hauled her against my chest.
She came easily, her body colliding with mine. The second she was in my arms, Iris broke down, sobbing. I wanted to ask questions, to get answers, but I knew it’d be useless until she got everything she was feeling out. Iris’s breath hitched several times, the sound having me on the verge of losing my mind. I hated hearing her so upset.
Eventually, I bent down and scooped Iris into my arms. I moved to the couch and settled her in my lap, stroking my fingers through her hair to offer her the comfort she clearly needed.
