Page 20 of For Keeps. For Always.

He doesn’t answer my call or reply to any of my texts or emails. Brooks speak for I’m hurting and I don’t want to discuss it.

“Mom,” I test hesitantly.

“Hmm.” She looks up from the TV.

“I need to ask you something, and I need you to hear me out before you say no.”

Narrowing her eyes, she lifts the remote and turns the TV off to offer me her full attention.

“I need to go back to Lake Geneva.”

“No.”

“Mom, please,” I plead. “Just for a few days. Moira Riley died.”

She looks down, a cast of sadness touching her features.

“Mom, Brooks needs me. I have nothing there anymore. I’ll be home within a week. I promise. I just want to be there for myonlyfriend.”

“You could have friends here,” she argues weakly.

I don’t speak.

“I’m sorry, Henley. With Derrick. . .”

“Derrick wants nothing to do with me,” I spit. “And quite frankly, I want nothing to do with him.”

“Your home is here.”

“I know that.” My tongue feels heavy with the lie. The truth is, no one place feels like home to me anymore. I belong nowhere.

She stares at me, and I hate that I don’t know what she’s thinking. I want her thoughts to be read out. Her excuses and her lies ready for me to combat. Instead, I sit as quietly as she does, pleading with my eyes.

“When’s the funeral?”

“I don’t know.” My voice cracks, and I cough to clear it. “Brooks won’t answer my call. He’s hurting, Mom. I need to be there.”

I’m not above begging. I’m not above dropping to my hands and knees and pleading with her to let me do this.

“I’ve not asked you for anything. I’ve settled in without issue or argument. Please, Mom.”

“Okay,” she finally agrees, and my eyes bulge in surprise.

“I’m not a monster, Henley.” She shields her hurt. “I told you, everything I do is because I love you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, and she looks at me expectantly. “I love you,” I add, hoping like hell she accepts my lie.

Smiling triumphantly, she pushes her shoulders back. “This actually works out well. Dylan was wanting us to take a few days away, and I was hesitant to leave you.”

And there we have it. Her decision has nothing to do with her letting me go and everything to do with needing me out of her hair to relieve her guilt about running off with her boyfriend.

“I'll be sure to thank Moira Riley’s corpse for you.”

She laughs, and I force one out myself. Best to keep the peace until my ass is on that plane.

“I’d like to leave as soon as possible if it’s okay. To make sure I don’t miss the funeral.”

She nods, her face already in her phone. No doubt textingDylan.

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