Page 63 of The Lies of Bryn van Doren

“Don’thime,” Beth teases, a small smile playing at her lips. “What’s got you smilin’ pretty?”

She shrugs, feigning ignorance. As much as she wants to tell her mom about the hot guy who bought her breakfast that morning, she can’t. It fills her with regret. Under different circumstances, she knows her mom would love to hear it. For now, she’s forced to shove aside all thoughts of Khalohn as she replies, “Just a good morning, I guess. How are you feeling?” she asks, hoping to change the subject.

Beth studies her for a second, clearly dissatisfied with her daughter’s remark, but she doesn’t voice her thoughts. “Sick of this bed,” she answers.

“How about we go for a stroll?” Jessica doesn’t even wait for Beth to agree before she’s up on her feet. “I’ll get your slippers and your robe.”

The two of them walk around the halls of Beth’s floor until she gets hungry. Her appetite comes and goes, so when she mentions she might want some food, Jessica is quick to take her back to her room so she can run down to the cafeteria and get her something to eat. They watch a movie on the Lifetime channel as Beth slowly eats a bowl of soup with crackers and Jessica munches on an apple. When a knock sounds at the door a little while later, both women smile at the sight of their visitor.

“Hey, Ms. Chapman,” greets Stefano with a fresh bouquet of flowers.

“All these years, and I still can’t get you to call me Beth,” she teases.

Laughing, Jessica grins at her best friend as she says, “You’re the only one who knows he has manners, mom.”

Stefano flips her off, not hiding the gesture in the slightest, and they all laugh. That is, until Beth is interrupted by a cough. Everyone’s amusement dies instantly. Beth waves away their worried expressions and then points to the withering flower arrangement Stefano brought with him the last time he was able to drop in.

“’Bout time you refreshed my stash.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by more often,” he says, setting the fresh flowers closest to Beth.

“Nonsense. I’ve been trying to convince this one there’s not much going on around here, and she doesn’t have to spend all her free time stuck in this room.”

Standing beside Jessica’s chair, Stefano reaches over and gives her shoulder a squeeze as he proclaims, “Stubborn as a mule, this one.”

“And you both love me for it,” says Jessica in her defense.

“How you feelin’, Ms. C?”

“As expected,” she answers, clearly uninterested in talking about her condition. “What have you been up to this weekend? All my girl ever does is work, sleep, and dote on me. I do hope your life has got more color in it than that.”

“Mom,” chides Jessica.

“Can’t say things are a lot different on my end,” Stefano admits mercifully. “Though, I was hoping to steal this one for a little while. Early dinner?” he asks, looking down at Jessica. “I’ve got to work tonight. You?”

Jessica forces a smile in an effort to look natural. What she really feels is anxious at his simple question. With Beth in the hospital, she’s managed to avoid talking to Stefano directly about the arrangement she has with Khalohn. While it’s obviously no secret what she’s doing, she hasn’t been forced to discuss it. As much as she would like to keep that streak going, there’s no way out of the conversation that’s always been inevitable.

“On call,” she murmurs honestly. “But I don’t expect I’ll be needed tonight.”

“It’s a date, then,” chimes in Beth. “Get her out of here,” she insists, eyeing Stefano expectantly. “She’ll be sleeping in that chair tonight if she doesn’t get called in. It’ll make me feel better knowing she at least got a decent meal.”

Jessica fights the urge to glare at her mother. Hermake me feel betterslogan is becoming a tactic she uses often. Deep down, Jessica recognizes it’s just a ploy. Beth feels guilty. No matter how hard she wishes to convince her mother she’s not the burden she thinks she is, Jessica is all too aware she’ll never win that fight. It’s not the woman or the mother Beth is. Never has been, and never will be.

“Fine. I can take a hint,” mutters Jessica in jest. She stands, reaching for her purse before looping her arm around Stefano’s. “I’ll be back.”

“I know you will.”

“It was good seeing you, Ms. C,” calls out Stefano as they make their way out the door.

“Thanks for the flowers,” murmurs Beth sincerely. “They’re beautiful.”

As Jessica and Stefano walk to the elevator, they don’t speak. On their ride down to the first floor, the lift car is full of other visitors, nurses, and doctors. This gives Jessica even more of an excuse to let a few more moments of silence pass before she’s forced into the inevitable conversation from which there’s no escape.

She and Stefano step out into the lingering heat of the early evening August air. He tilts his head to the corner and merely says, “We’ll hit the Fifth Ave Diner.”

Nodding, Jessica follows his lead.

“How are you holding up?” he asks, glancing at her as they walk shoulder to shoulder, maneuvering their way through the other pedestrians. “I know it’s not easy, her being here for so long.”

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