Page 79 of Waves of Hope

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHARLOTTE

As they prepared to get into Shane’s car, Sophia rushed out of the house. “Oh, Shane, I’m so sorry.” She stood before him. “Your mother has good days and bad days. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of the good ones.”

Shane faced her. “The bad ones are only worse. You’ve seen it over and over again. She has this urge to hurt others. She needs help.”

Sophia wrung her hands. “I’ve tried to talk to her about it. Since Mr. Ricardo has been gone, she’s been at loose ends. He thought she was beautiful and caring. Now she has no one.”

“No one to fawn over her.” Shane shook his head sadly. “She needs professional treatment, Sophia. Please try to convince her to get it.”

Sophia threw her arms around him. “Again, I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too,” said Shane with such pain in his voice that Charlotte blinked back tears.

Shane assisted Charlotte into his car and then settled himself behind the wheel.

“Are you okay to drive?” Charlotte asked him.

He nodded, took a deep breath, and instead of roaring away like she thought he might, he slowly pulled out of the driveway.

Charlotte drew a deep breath, still stunned by what had happened. She might have felt alone in her family, but she’d never experienced such cruelty as Shane’s mother had shown him.

“There you have it,” said Shane, flexing his jaw. “Now, you know why I can never seem to make a long-term commitment to anyone. The thought of a relationship becoming like my parents’ makes me sick.”

“Does your father act that way toward you?”

“No, he’s a kind man. When he and my mother were together, she constantly belittled him, making him furious. I understand that now. Dad has a nice family, a loving wife, two kids. A boy and a girl. He’s very good to them. He’s Granny Liz’s son, after all.”

“What about Austin? How does he deal with your mother?”

Shane wove his way through traffic silently for a few minutes and then spoke. “She adores him. But as an adult, he sees how unhealthy that is when compared to her treatment of me. He doesn’t resemble my dad like I do.”

“Does Austin see her often?”

“No. She can turn on him too.” He let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry you had to witness how fucked up my family is.”

Charlotte reached over and patted his arm. “You’re not your mother. You’re a very special and wonderful man, Granny Liz’s grandson. Don’t let your mother ruin how you think of yourself. She’s a sick woman.”

He glanced at her and let out another long breath. “You’re right. Thanks.”

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When they returned to the condo, they got out of the car.

“Didn’t you say you have another appointment this afternoon?” Charlotte asked him.

He shook his head. “I just mentioned it so I could keep my options open.” He let out a soft sound of disgust. “I learned to do that early on. Except I forgot how that can lead to her rant about my work.”

She took his arm. “Let’s go inside and take a rest. I think we both need one.”

He held back and studied her. “Thank you, Charlie, for not freaking out on me. I appreciate it.”

She gazed up into his face. “We promised to be honest with one another, so I’m telling you now, I’ll always be here for you, Shane.”

Shane blinked rapidly.

She noticed the wetness at the corners of his eye and wrapped her arms around him, wanting more than anything to take his pain away.

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