I laugh at her gumption. “Mom, I don’t want to be bailing you out of jail for assault. Let it lie.”
“I will if she does. I can get Riley to take care of my light work anytime.”
I laugh. “I needed that, Mom.”
“I’m serious,” she deadpans.
“I know you are. We don’t have to worry about her. I doubt our paths will be crossing.”
“You’re with her ex, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but you know what happened to Rolly.” My voice shakes as I think of the sweet boy who swiftly captured my heart.
“Trust me, she’ll be around. Probably trying to play on his sympathy. She was never over him. You said it yourself.”
Sighing, I rub my eyelids. “Mom, I’m too tired to get this deep.”
“Okay, baby, you come by, and I’ll make your favorite tonight.”
“Lasagna and homemade garlic bread?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll even throw in some peach cobbler.”
“My mouth is watering already.” My stomach growls as my hunger flares. We’ve been eating crap with a side of healthy at the hotel when they could get it.
“Good. I’ll see you soon, baby.”
I hang up feeling connected and loved. Slipping my phone in the pocket of my robe, I soak up the sunshine. There’s no one to tell me to stay inside, no rules to follow other than the ones I make for myself, and no looming trial. All that exists is me and decisions that need to be made. I’ve yet to even check my Facebook because I’m afraid of what I might find. It’s no way to live. The door behind me slides open.
“How did it go?” I peer over my shoulder.
“They understood. They want to see me.” He stands beside me.
“I’m going to my parents’ house tonight. You should do the same.”
“You don’t want to do it together?” he asks.
“No, I don’t want to take from your reunion, and I think you should make sure there are no lingering hard feelings toward me.” I cringe at the thought of his flesh and blood blaming me for Rolly’s death.
“There isn’t. They were worried about you while you were in the hospital. If it wasn’t for the guards and tight security, they would’ve gone to see you. Please don’t let Allie’s behavior turn you off them. They adore you. Any more loss is too much.” His voice wavers and I wonder if he’s talking about them or himself.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I cover his hand with mine, and he kisses my shoulder. We’ve spent the past couple of days sleeping, eating, and watching mindless television. It’s time to return to the real world. “We need to decide what we’re doing.”
“I know. It’s hard to think further than a few hours at a time,” he admits.
“Where do you want the new place to be?”
“Away from both our houses. I can’t. The thought of going back makes me break out in a cold sweat.”
“Hey. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Yes. Yes I do,” he croaks.
“Why?”
“Because he’s never coming back. I have to face that.” His lower lip trembles and his face crumbles like a deck of cards. I move forward to hold him, taken aback by the swift fluctuation of emotions. As his cries break loose, I find myself unable to hold back my own tears. I tried to so hard to be strong for him. I compartmentalized my own feelings. The purge is a baptism as I shed the old skin and share my pain with Ollie.
“THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER returns,” Max says as I walk into the house.