Chapter 21%
The moment I walked through
door, Mick’s bloodshot eyes lit up like a man who hadn’t seen daylight in weeks. He stood up, clearly wanting to come to toe, but hesitated halfway throgh the motion has foot paused mid air before he awkwardly pulled it back, like pride
was waiting for me to come by lat
Classic Nick. He didn’t want to look desperate bedel want to appear like the one chasing. But I hadn’t come back to sit down for drinks. with him, or to fall back into odd halats &
Without a word, I walked past him and headed straight for Drs. Fosco
“When are we going to see Jaylen?” Lasked 1
She didn’t miss a beat. “Tov,” she said, then led both of us to die hospital X
The sterile white walls of the hospital ludn’t changed, but Jayden had. As we pushed open the door to his room, I froue for a second. He looked like a shadow of the boy Fonna raised pale, thinner than I remembered, so fragile it seerried like even the sheets could brine
My heart fightened in my chest &
It surprised me I thought I was past this Post caring at looking at him now, so broken, so vulnerable, the years I spent raising him surged back, uminated 25
Twalked to his bedside, gently brushing his damp hair froin has forehead. My voice softened, barely above a whisper…
“Jayden Jaylen ”
He didn’t move. I called his name again. And again by the fifth time, something shifted his fingers twitched, then suddenly, his hand shot up and gripped my wist tightly
“Mom?” His voice was rc hoarse, like it hadn’t been used in days. “You’re back, night? Mom%
Theld his hand, trying to calm his panic. “Yes, I’m liom F’in right here, sweethewt. Just open your eyes. “).
He stirred, then slowly, his lids lifted. When his eyes finally focused on me, he gasped, then sat up abruptly and launched himself into my
“Mom! It’s really you! I’m so sony. I didn’t mean all those awful things I said, I shouldn’t have called you a murderer or or a whore. I was wrong I didn’t know better. I was stupid“}
His sobis wrecked him as he clung to me, soaking the collar of my shirt with tears. “I don’t want Valentina. I don’t want anyone else. I just want you to be my mom Please come back to me and Dad. We need you”
I held him long enough to calm him down, my hand gently putting his back. Then I looked up–and found Nick staring at me, his expression creadable
The moment our eyes met, he finched and turned away like a teenager caught staring too long
1 fer nothing l
Once Jayden had stopped shaking, I turned to Mrs Fusco. I’ve done what you asked. I woke him up. That’s all I came to do. Please take care of yourself“)
I stood and Jayden instantly panicked. His finger clutched at mine like a lifeline! “Mom, where are you going? Didn’t you say you’d come back?“%
Π
I I
I pulled my hand free and said calmly. “Tin not your mother, remember? Gianna is flow that I divorced your father I have no obligation to stay. Take care of yourself“:
I turned and walked out without looking back 2
Theard Mrs. Fusco intalo like she was about to call out to mo¬but she didn’t. I could hem Jayden belund me, crying like the world was ending, his voice sharp and frantic
Outside, sunlight hit my face as I mentally mapped out the next leg of our journey. Mom had always wanted to see the country. I’d only.
the neighboring city
con Another city, another memory to create
hospital entrarnice, someone grabbed my wist
Nick had run after me. He was out of breath, but his eyes were serious, desperate even
“Ana” he parted, “I need to talk to you!
I didn’t say a word Just pulled my hand away and waited
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” he said, volce low, sincere or at least, practiced well enough to sound like it. “These past weeks without m. For five years, I’ve taken you for granted treated you like someone I could always count on–but
yes pleaded wi
nine. “Jayden still needs you. I still need you Can we try again? I swear, I’ll make it right.
Nick. It’s over Maybe it’s time you started looking elsewhere. Try Valentina the seems like your type “E
