“How long can we stay with her?”Devon asked.Elisa wrapped her arms around his waist as his voice cracked.
“Only a short while.If her levels of distress elevate, we’ll ask you to leave.”
The distance from the waiting area to his mom’s room felt like a thousand miles; the ten-minute wait felt like days.Cujo gripped Drea’s hand.
“Boys,” Alec said as they reached Evelyn’s room, “I think it best if just the three of us go in.Connor can join us when he gets here.This might be too much for your mom.”
Cujo wanted to argue.He wasn’t even sure he could take the final step across the threshold of the room without drawing on the strength Drea was giving him simply by standing at his side.Yet he knew, deep down in the parts of him there weren’t fracturing into pieces, his father was right.
Drea pressed her forehead into his chest.He kissed the top of her head, the faint smell of strawberries cutting through her coconut sunscreen.
“I’ll be right here,” she said, “no matter what happens.You wanna stay all night, I’ll be here.You wanna leave in five, I got you covered.”
He followed Alec into the room.What if she didn’t want them?Again.He was just getting used to the idea of her being around.
Evelyn sat up in bed, clutching a tissue to her eyes.“I don’t deserve you.Any of you,” she sobbed.The wires had been removed from her jaw, but it was clear it pained her to move it.
Alec hurried to the side of the bed, sat next to her, and gently pulled her against his chest.“Don’t say that.”
Cujo heard Devon sniff, and draped his arm around his little brother’s shoulders.
Mom pushed away from Alec.“Why not?It’s true.How could I?Could I…?”Heavy tears streamed down her face.“I left.When I should have stayed.Devon, you weren’t even in school.”
Devon shrugged out of Cujo’s hold, went to the bed, and lowered his head to his mom’s lap, crying silently.
“Please, Evelyn, don’t.Don’t get so upset.We’re right here.”Alec pressed his lips to her hand.
“I’m sorry, Alec.I just couldn’t… I was so young.And I wanted to do so much.Devon, you went to bed the night I left, crying because we couldn’t find your rabbit, and I left anyway.What kind of… kind of… mom… am I, was I?”Painful, angry sobs choked her.
Dr.Jaffrey entered the room.“I’m sorry, but Evelyn, you really need to calm down.”He handed her a small paper cup and a glass of water.
Evelyn shook her head.“You don’t understand.I can’t remember everything.Only pieces.It’s not clear.”His mom sobbed loudly and reached for another tissue.“The drugs will stop them from coming back.”
“I promise you,” Dr.Jaffrey said calmly, “they will not hinder.You may find you remember more in the morningbecauseyou rested.”
“Please, Evie, take it.We aren’t going anywhere,” Alec sniffed, wiping at his own eyes.“We’ll get through this.It’ll take time, but we’ll find our way through, I promise.”
And like Drea and her promises, he knew Alec meant it.Evelyn took the pills, and after several more minutes of gut-wrenching apologies, regained a small measure of composure.
Devon was no longer crying, but holding Evelyn’s hand.They all had their back to him.Except Evelyn, who looked straight at him.
Everybody stayed silent for a long while, absorbing what had happened.His mom’s eyes started to drift closed.
“We’ll let you get some rest,” Alec said, standing.“But we’ll be back in the morning.There’s no time limit on this.”
Devon said his good-byes and followed Alec out into the hallway.
Cujo nodded.Couldn’t bring himself to say anything.Just ground his jaw even tighter.
“Brody,” his mom called out.“Is Drea with you?Can I see her?”
“She is, but why don’t we visit tomorrow?”
“Please, Brody.I have so much to make up to all of you, but I put that girl in grave danger.Just for a moment.”
Cujo nodded and went to the hallway where Drea was stoically standing alone.
“Mom wants to see you.”He wrapped Drea tightly in his arms, more for his own benefit then hers.“She’s in rough shape, Shortcake.”
