Send them away!
They shouldn’t have come!
They’re leaving you again!
Staggering back, Rule dropped into his seat and dug his fingers into his thighs, closing his eyes.
“Are you okay, brother?”
Rebel’s worried voice invaded Rule. He managed a nod.
“Reb, why don’t you and Bianca go with Freya and Father Wilkins to get the shopping bags out of the car?”
“Okay, Momma,” Rebel said hesitantly.
“Maybe I should stay, Mrs. Caldwell—”
“Go,” Mom told the priest.
There was a moment’s commotion as everyone trooped out. Rule almost called them back. He feared the voices telling him to hurt his mother and no one would be there to help her.
Mom’s cherry-blossom scent enveloped him as she hugged him close. She kissed his forehead. “I’m here, son,” she whispered, stroking his back.
Rule nodded but kept his eyes closed. “I love you. I love you and Reb. I love you.”
“I know, and we love you. Don’t worry. Freya called me. You’re safe. I will see to it that you get what you need.”
Slowly, Rule returned his mother’s hug. “Don’t tell Reb. Or Dad. Or CJ. Or—”
“This will stay between you and me.”
She’s a liar!
No, she isn’t!
Rulebelieved his mother. Breathing heavily, he let her go and balled his hands into fists. “You really left Dad just to see me?”
Nodding, Mom sat next to him. “We did, son.”
“I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too.”
Rule searched for something to talk about then remembered she’d sent Rebel for shopping bags. “What did you buy?”
Mom smiled. “I bought Bianca a few things on the way here. Freya told me Bianca didn’t have a full week’s worth of clothes, so I bought her three outfits. Freya will give them to her in a way that won’t embarrass her.”
“She’s going to be discharged soon,” Rule said glumly. “She’s my only friend here, Mom.”
“Rule—”
“But she doesn’t want to go,” Rule said, and told his mother why. “It isn’t safe for her.”
“Do you want me to talk to her?”
“I do, but she…she confided in me. I’m being selfish—”
You are selfish and evil.
