The cheery calm in her mother’s voice made Cheryl furious. She balled up the leaflet and threw it to the ground. “You fucking hid this from me! You lied to me!”
“CeeCee…”
“I’ll pay it,” she snapped. “I’ll take out a loan and ask Bridgette for a raise and—”
“You don’t need to do that. I don’t need to go yet. Felicity said so. I can still move on my own. I can still—”
“But only just, right? You can only just move on your own?”
Her mum’s gaze shifted back to the TV.
“Great!” Cheryl threw up her hands. “I’m coming back home. I’ll move in and take care of you until—”
“No! No! No! No!”
All the anger fled Cheryl’s body like scared mice. Her mother’s face was taut, her gnarled hands balled into fists.
“I’ll go to the state hospital before you live here, Cheryl Walker! I’ll live in a goddamn tent!”
The world seemed to tilt like reality had gotten shitfaced. Her mum never called her Cheryl Walker. It was always Cheryl Karalis-Walker, his name before hers.
“But… why?” she asked.
“Because I say so,” her mother’s voice was shaking with rage. “You will not spend the best years of your life taking care of me.”
“But I want to help you.”
“Then let me die knowing I didn’t ruin my daughter’s life!”
Her anger returned tenfold. “Don’t you dare talk about dying!”
“I’m going to die!” Sharon Walker yelled. “I’m going to die and you won’t plan your life around me. You’re a beautiful girl and you’re going to get married and have your own family.”
“I don’t want my own fucking family!”
“I don’t care! If you live with me you’ll have nothing once I’m gone. I won’t let that happen. It’s my worst nightmare.”
A hot splash fell on Cheryl’s cheek. She wiped the tear away. “You’re such a stubborn asshole!”
“Takes one to know one,” her mum snapped. “You’re not living with me. I’ll change the locks.”
She meant it, Cheryl knew she did, but that only made her angrier. “Fine! But I’m going to start saving for Wheelers Hill! I’ll send you there if it fucking kills me!”
“Fine! Do it.”
For a moment they glared at one another, then her mum’s beautiful face shifted, and she started to cry too. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
Cheryl rushed to her mother and put her head in her lap, the way she had when she was a little girl. They cried together, her mum’s warm tears dropping onto her head like rain.
“I’m so sorry,” they said over and over. “I’m so sorry.”
* * *
Present Day
Cheryl woke to a sweet, ebbing feeling. Like pressing on a bruise. Patrick was curled up beside her, his mouth slightly open, long black lashes fluttering against his cheek.
I love you, she thought, and the sweet feeling intensified. She knew part of it was the comedown, but it was also something more. He knew all her secrets now and she knew his. They’d crossed that final bridge and now there were no more questions. She was really going to do this. Date her stupidly sexy best friend. She’d have to tell Eden. Everyone at work. Dear God, she’d finally have to introduce him to her mother.
