Page 98 of Love Puck

And then we both fell asleep.

“Help! Someone help me!”

I was awakened by my mother screaming in my ear. Confused, I let go of her and looked into her eyes. “Mom, it’s okay. It’s me. Jillian.”

The look of terror in her eyes shocked and startled me.

She screamed for help again and started pushing me away. I fell off the bed with a thud. “Ouch, shit.” I pushed up from the cold floor and saw three attendants rushing into the room.

They talked to her while one of them gave her some kind of needle. Almost instantly, Mom stopped yelling.

The director of the home walked into the room and sighed. “I think you should come with me.”

I stood and followed her out of the room. She strode down the hallway and stopped at one of the small family rooms in the facility. “Sit, please.”

We both sat down, and she started in on me. “This was very disruptive, Jillian. We know you can’t visit often, but—” Something stopped her. And I’d bet it was likely my puffy, red eyes.

“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” I wiped under my eyes, wondering what a mess I must look like. “Please apologize to everyone for me.”

I went to stand up, but she grabbed my hand. “Are you okay?” The concern in her voice made me start to tear up again.

“No,” I took in a deep breath, “but that’s not your problem. I really am sorry. I needed my mom today—I shouldn’t have come.” I pulled out of her grasp and hurried down the hallway and out to my rental car.

Somehow, I ended back at my mom’s house. The house I’d grown up in.

I’d always loved it here.

I remembered the good times.

When it was filled with friends and family.

My parents loved to entertain.

And they had some very famous and interesting friends.

If these walls could talk, they’d have plenty of funny, loving things to say.

I’d picked up a sandwich on my way here. But my stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it. I knew that.

I opened the fridge and threw it inside. There was nothing else in there except for a few condiments and a bunch of bottled water. I shut the door and briefly wandered around the house.

Everything was neat and tidy and in its place. Luckily, I had cleaners in here once a month to keep it clean.

With my schedule, I couldn’t come back here that often. But when I did, it was always fresh and welcoming.

After I bought my sandwich, I made the mistake of turning my phone back on. An absolute deluge of texts and missed calls showed up.

Yikes.

Before I got on the plane, I’d texted Gigi, Marcel, and Angelique. I told them how sorry I was to embarrass the teams the way I had. I said I knew there would be consequences for my actions and that I’d face them.

In a couple of days.

I just had to do a few things first.

After that, I said I would meet them in Edmonton in time for the game. If they still wanted me on their team, that is. I also asked Gigi to please grab my equipment bag I’d set by my door.

I hadn’t looked at social media.

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