Maxine was out like a light in Mom’s bed due to the“draught” the doctor had given us to help her sleep.
Yes, the doctor had come and gone.
He did this with Mom flatly refusing to let Maxine go backto the hospital.
With Loren, Ansley, Maitland, the doctor and me all watchingher, while she wore an outfit Carling unearthed from the rafters (or wherever)that was okay, but it wasn’t like any of mine (mine were more VictorianCinderella, hers was moreDangerous Liaisonsvixen), she decreed,“She’s mine now.I have her back.We’ll arrange instruction so we can learnwhat we’re doing.We’ll hire a nurse who just knows what she’s doing.We’llcome to you for regular appointments so she continues to have the care sheneeds.What we’renotgoing to do is let her go again.”
Damn, Mom wasintobeing Corliss of thisworld.
The doctor seemed thrilled by this and replied, “She’sgrieved for you greatly.”
“Well, that’s over,” Mom returned.
“Being with her loved ones in a stable environment will doher wonders,” the doctor continued.
“Marvelous!”Mom cried, twirling her hand in the air.“We’reall agreed!”
She then stoppedjustshort of raising her fist tothe heavens and exclaiming, “We’ll never go hungry again!”which meant she wasa bit overdoing it, but, whatevs.
So, apparently, imprisonment in a dungeon for nearly a monthwith her daughter-not-daughter and meals of gruel and broth wasn’t enough tobreak my mother.
I should have known.
Obviously, they’d had their baths, eaten, and gottendressed.Then Mom settled Maxine in with some sketchbooks by a window, metAnsley, Loren, Maitland, and the doctor came and went.
Mom returned to Maxine.
I wanted to go with her and get to know my “sister,” butLoren took me aside before I could do that.
“There’s much to be done,” he declared.
I was thinking wedding.
“I’m sure.”
“We need to go to the constabulary and make our statements.”
Oh, well then.
Not wedding.
“Father and I’ll do it now.We’ll take you and your mothertomorrow.”
I nodded.“Right.”
“We’ll be needing to make other arrangements.”
I should not push this, considering the fact I was going tofind a witch as fast as I could and let Loren off the hook, but still.
I hoped this world had peonies.
“Carling had a chat with Father as you were demonstratinghow much you enjoy my mouth.”
I squinted my eyes.“It wasn’t like you didn’t have a bit offun, mister.”
“Oh, I did indeed,” he whispered, a lazy, sexy look in hiseyes.
My clitoris pulsed.
