Page 62 of Richmond’s Legacy

“Everyone—Jace is going to be fine. Thanks for coming when I called. Like I told you all over the phone, his vitals strengthened, the doctors expected him to wake up today, and he has. But we need to let him rest.”

“Not you,” I croaked to her. “You stay.”

She squeezed my forearm gently as Oren and the doctor left the room, engrossed in a quiet discussion.

“Jace,” Marina said as she passed. I’d forgotten she was even in the room. “I’m so sorry this happened to you. I just wanted to come and show my support.”

Of course she did. The truth was, I’d treated Marina badly after Greer’s near-death experience, and I’d never thanked her for meeting with me and sharing what she knew.

“Marina…I’m sorry I was such a dick.” Good. Keep it simple.

Her eyes shone with affection. “You were, kind of. But…growth, you know? I see it in you. I hope someday—not now, but someday—we can be friends.”

I tried for a smile, and she, too, left the room.

“I’m going to go see everyone out and get a coffee, but I’ll be right back,” Greer said, leaving me alone with Sheryll. She’d kept quiet before, but now that we were alone, she couldn’t keep the tears from streaming down her face.

“My boy,” she said, burying her face in my side. “I was so scared.”

A familiar wave of anger began building in my gut—rage at her audacity. How dare she care so much when she spent so much of my life not giving a shit about me at all? But I stuffed it back down. I’d discuss it in therapy. Everything that had happened—it’d put so many things in my life into perspective.

“I’m okay, Mom,” I said, petting her wiry hair as she sobbed. “I’m okay.”

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