Page 42 of Silver Tears

“Hello.”

“Milly!”

It’s Charlie and he sounds upset. “Charlie, what’s wrong?” I glance at Seb, and he gestures for us to move away from the crowd, so I can talk without being overheard. With his hand on my lower back, he guides me to a quiet area of the beach.

“Mum went out to the shop, and she didn’t come back for ages. I thought she’d got lost. She came home with that man, and they were drinking and dancing and playing loud music. The man shouted at me when I asked mum if I could have a bedtime story. The man’s gone now, but mum isn’t waking up.”

A chill runs through my body. “What do you mean, she isn’t waking up? Chops, can you put a hand on mum’s chest for me and see if you can feel her chest go up and down?” Seb surprises me when he grabs my other hand and squeezes it.

“It’s moving up and down,” Charlie replies.

I breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s good, Charlie. I think she maybe drank a bit too much.” I cover the phone with my hand to speak to Seb. “I know I’m supposed to be here tonight playing the doting girlfriend, but my brother needs me.”

“I know. Come on, let’s head to my car,” he says without even blinking, tugging on my hand. “Hey, Arch. Mills and I are gonna head out. She’s not feeling too great.”

“Everything okay, sis?” Damon asks me, wheeling round on his crutches to face me. I school my features. If anyone will pick up that something isn’t right, it’s my brother. He knows me too well. Saying that, though, I’ve become adept at lying to him.

“Yeah, I think it’s just a migraine. We’re going to chill at Seb’s. I’ll be fine.”

Damon nods his head, satisfied. “Okay, well, take care and I’ll see you at home.”

I give him the thumbs up. “Charlie, I’m on my way over. You just pop the television on and keep your eye on mum for me. If she shakes or vomits, I need you to call me. In fact, why don’t I stay on the phone, and you can read your reading book to me?”

“Okay,” his little voice says. “I’ll go get my book.”

“Good boy,” I praise, as I climb into Seb’s car. He starts the engine and whisks us out of here.

“It’ll be okay, Mills,” Seb reassures me, reaching over and squeezing my leg.

“Will it? She’s getting worse.” As of late I’ve felt as though I’m lost at sea without a life raft. I’m watching my mum spiral before my eyes and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it. She dismisses my concern and says she’s fine and she’s just having some fun. When I try to press further, she becomes snappy and defensive.

Seb speeds along the country lanes whilst I listen to my baby brother read his book. It helps keep him distracted and allows me to monitor mum. Every few minutes I ask him if mum is okay, and he says she is still the same.

We pull up at the house and I’m straight out of the car before Seb has even stopped the engine. The front door is unlocked, and I walk straight in and search for my brother.

“Hey, Charlie.” I rush to him, and he meets me halfway. I sweep him up into my arms.

“You came.”

I lean back and stroke his hair. “Of course I came, Chops. I’ll always come when you need me.”

“Seb!” Charlie shouts. I turn to see him standing in the doorway. It feels strange seeing him here in my mum’s house. No one has ever been here other than me. He is getting a glimpse into a whole other side of my life tonight. I bet he didn’t bargain for any of this when he blackmailed me into being his fake girlfriend.

“Hey, Chops. Where’s your mum?” he asks, his eyes scanning the room. The mess and smallness of this humble home doesn’t seem to faze him at all.

Charlie points with his finger. “She’s in the kitchen on the floor. I put a cushion under her head.”

I want to cry for him. He’s so sweet and innocent. Charlie doesn’t deserve this. I kiss him on his head and squeeze him tight. “You’re such a good boy. Mum is lucky to have you.”

Charlie plays with a strand of my hair. “Is mum going to die?”

“No, of course she isn’t. She’s just been silly and drank too much. She just needs to rest and sleep it off.”

I watch as Seb disappears into the kitchen. “Go get your dressing gown on. You’re cold,” I instruct Charlie, placing him back on his feet. “I’m just going to check on mum.”

Charlie rushes off to his room and I head into the kitchen. Seb is crouched down over my mum. He’s holding her wrist in his hand, his finger on her pulse point. “Her heart rate seems okay. I think she just needs to sleep it off.”

I crouch down on the other side of her and notice the empty vodka bottle beside her. “Mum.” I shake her gently and pat her cheeks with my hand. “Wake up, mum.”

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