Page 123 of Bring Me To My Knees

“I actually need to talk to all of you.” I sigh.

“What’s going on?” Mitch asks, walking into the living room, followed by Delaney.

I spend the next half hour explaining everything to them, with their jaws on the floor.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. This could have turned out so much worse,” Marley says, her hand covering her mouth.

“I know, and I’m sorry I put you through this.”

“What about your mom? Do the police know about all the blackmail?” Mitch asks.

“No, I wanted to leave my mom out of it. I was just hoping I could figure out what to do about her before the investigation was over. It probably would have lasted a lot longer, but then the accident with Marley happened and they realized that things were spiraling out of control. By things, I mean me. I was unreliable and they knew that.”

“That was a lot to ask of someone that isn’t on the actual police force, Clark,” Marley says, putting her hand over mine.

“I know, it just feels like it’s just like me to fuck some shit up.” I sigh.

“I think you’re pretty badass,” Mitch says.

“I can’t believe that Riley is dead. Does it seem insensitive to say I won’t miss her?” Delaney asks, making all of us laugh.

“It’s not insensitive at all. She was a terrible person,” I say, shrugging.

“So, we can finally put all this shit behind us?” Marley asks.

“Yes, finally,” I say, putting my arm around her shoulder.

“Have you decided what to do about your mom?” Marley asks.

“Yeah, I think it’s time for me to let go,” I say, looking over at her, trying to keep the tears at bay.

“What’s going on?” Delaney asks.

I explain everything from this morning to Mitch and Delaney.

“That’s weird. They didn’t tell me that she wasn’t doing well when I called them last week.” Delaney frowns.

“What?” Marley asks.

Delaney’s eyes go wide.

“Shit,” she mumbles.

“Wait… did you pay for my mom’s care?” I ask.

She nods, clearly embarrassed for ratting herself out.

“Why would you do that? I asked all of you to stay out of it.”

“No, you told Marley and Mitch to stay out of it. Not me. We’re friends. You guys are more like my family than my actual family. It’s the least I could do,” she says, shrugging, as if she didn’t just do one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.

“Delaney, that’s so sweet,” Marley says, getting up to wrap her arms around her.

“It’s nothing really. No big deal,” she says, waving her affection off.

“Thanks. Seriously,” I say to her.

She nods in response, and that’s enough for me.

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