"I didn't really expect to be here," I admitted.
I’d always been close to my parents, but I found that I could tell my Mom anything and everything. Now that the day had settled down, I felt it hit me and a small tremble started.
"What's wrong, Stef?" Mom asked and placed a hand on my forehead, trying to straighten out the crease that had formed there. "You always get those worry lines when something is wrong."
I gave her a small smile. "Lucas... he got into some trouble. He's fine. Absolutely fine. Came away unscathed." The last sentence held some venom.
"Stefan, you can't judge your brother for what he does," Mom said to me.
I hated the fact our Mom defended Luc. She spoke as if he had a normal job when it was anything but. I had always struggled to see what Mom had seen in Charlie Foster. Sure, she had a temper but to have married Charlie and known everything he was capable of, I just couldn't process it.
"I can judge him when what he does lands a friend in here," I told her, sharper than I had intended.
"What happened?"
"A friend of ours, Mia, she was stabbed."
"Dear Lord," Mom breathed. "Is she okay?"
"She came out of surgery and she's resting now." I leaned forward and rested my head on Mom's lap. Her hand stroked through my hair and I could feel her tremor though it was not so pronounced at the moment.
"You care about her?" Mom asked softly.
I let out a sigh and turned my head to look up at her.
"You're worried that you'll lose her like Isa," Mom murmured.
I felt my heart give a painful clench at the memory of the woman who had stolen my heart the moment I laid eyes on her. "I loved her, Mom. I never got the chance to tell her that."
Mom had picked up the pieces when I had lost Isa. I felt a part of myself was buried with her that day. I would have done anything for Isabella because she lit my world without even realizing it. More beautiful than any piece of art and kind to a fault, Isa had barely lived before she was taken from us. Before I had the chance to admit to her how I felt. If I’d had the courage, then maybe I could have stopped what happened. She would have been with me and alive.
"If you ever get that chance with someone again, don't waste it," Mom advised me.
I heard Mom’s word and thought about Mia, sleeping soundly in her hospital room.
Maybe she was my second chance.
Chapter Thirty Six
Lucas
Opening the door to the house, I was greeted by Lydia in the hallway with a small bag in hand.
"What's going on?" she asked. "Has something happened? Is Mia alright?"
I couldn't find the words, so I nodded and moved past her to get into the kitchen. The entire way home I’d felt numb. Of course, Mia would not want to talk to me. She was not going to want to hear anything I had to say.
I pulled a bottle of whiskey and a glass from the counter before I sat at the table. Pouring myself a glass, I wasted no time in downing the liquid, letting it burn as it went down and pouring myself another.
"Lucas." Lydia stood in the doorway looking concerned. "What's going on?"
"She doesn't want to see me," I told her, the words tumbling out of my mouth. Lydia walked over and took a seat next to me while I drank.
"That doesn't sound like Mia," Lydia said.
"I don't blame her. Do you?" I asked. "She gets abducted and then stabbed and it's because of me so I mean I don't blame her."
I knew Mia wasn't meant to be a part of my world, but I had desperately held onto some hope. This little spark had made me believe that if I could show her I cared that when I finally let her in, Mia would accept it. I hadn't wanted to rush and instead, she'd had a baptism by fire.
