"And all of that is true. It's just..." She pauses. "It's been kind of nice having a life that isn't your fathers. Being able to make decisions without him."
"Are you saying you don't want to go back?"
"Part of me does, but part of me isn't sure. I never in a million years thought I'd end up here, at my age, living in an apartment and working an entry level job. But it's been kind of empowering knowing I could do this. Knowing I could get a job and support us without your father. I still miss what we used to have, which makes it tempting to go back, but I'm not sure it's the right decision."
"Why didn't you tell him that? If you don't want him doing this, just tell him."
"I wanted to talk to you first. And I was going to but then everything happened with Dean and I didn't want to bring it up."
"Dad acts like the decision is made. He said he's even looking at places for us to live."
"Yes, and unfortunately I have no say in that. If he's paying, he gets to decide. It's just like when we were married. It's infuriating but I want what's best for you. And if going back to Haverhill is what's best, I'm willing to put up with your father and his demands."
"Mom, I don't want to do this. I don't want to go back there."
She nods. "I thought you'd say that, which is why I was going to try to talk you into it. I even considered forcing you to go, knowing that Haverhill is a much better school. But then I saw you at the hospital with Eve and Danny and those boys from the team." She smiles. "The way they interacted with you? And you with them? You looked like you belonged there. Like you fit there, more than you did at Haverhill. Honestly, I was shocked seeing it. That wasn't the daughter I knew. The way you let them see you like that, crying and upset. The old Brook would've smiled and said she was fine."
"That's not me, Mom. I'm not that girl. I'm the girl you saw at the hospital last night. I could never be myself at Haverhill. I always felt like I had to be on, always pretending to be happy. Always smiling and doing what people told me. And I hated it. It was exhausting." I look in her eyes. "Please don't make me go to Haverhill." I glance at the living room. "I hate this crappy apartment and I really hate that it smells like cat litter but I like my life here. I don't want to go back."
She rubs my arm. "I don't want to make a decision right now. Let's give it some more thought and talk again later. There's no rush."
"But Dad already enrolled me. He said I have to start in a few weeks."
"We have some time." She walks to the microwave to get her dinner. "If he loses money on the enrollment, he'll be fine. He has plenty of money."
"Madison will go crazy if that happens."
"Then your father will have to deal with her. It's not our problem." She sits down at the counter. "As for the cat litter smell, I agree. We need to fix that. I'll go buy some air freshener or maybe some candles."
"You'll need about a thousand to get rid of the smell."
She laughs. "Whatever it takes.
I sit down with her while she eats and tell her the latest about Dean and Jake. There isn't really much to tell. Dean was asleep when I saw him during lunch and his nurse wouldn't tell me anything. I don't know anything new about Jake either. Since the cop won't answer my calls I'm left having to find stuff out on the news or online. The news said the cops are still looking for the truck but that Dean's dad might've ditched the truck, knowing people are searching for it. If that's true, how will they ever find Jake and his dad?
I'm really worried about Jake. I don't think his dad would hurt him but why did he take him? It'd be a lot easier to go on the run alone than having your kid with you.
What am I going to tell Dean? The next time I see him I know he's going to ask about Jake and I still don't know what to tell him.
Chapter Nine
Dean
"I need to see her," I say to the nurse, referring to Brook. "I don't care if she's not a relative. She's my girlfriend and I want to see her. And where the hell is my brother? He should be here with Brook."
"The doctor will be in shortly," the nurse says, ignoring everything I just said.
"What day is it?" I ask, catching her before she leaves.
"Thursday," she says before walking away.
It's Thursday and I got here on Monday. I've only been here a few days but it seems like a few years. The pain's been getting worse but it's only because I'm feeling it more now. They keep lowering my pain meds because I keep telling them my pain's at a five, when it's really more like a twelve. I don't give a shit about the pain. At least now my brain isn't foggy and I can actually think.
"Dean." The doctor walks in, coming up beside my bed and staring down at me, his arms crossed. "How are you feeling today?"
"Good. Am I getting out of here?"
"If your blood work comes out okay, then yes, we'll move you to a regular room sometime this afternoon. How's the pain?"
