“Does that mean you have Paul’s location?”
“I will have it soon.”
He chuckles. “Confidence, I like that. Then, we’ll stay in touch.”
“Don’t take too long to decide, Agent.”
SEVENTEEN
Seeing Mom's smiling face again is like a dream. Although there’s a sadness behind her eyes, she’s back, and that’s what I’m trying to focus on. Aria’s barely left her side since she woke up, and in true Noelle Campbell fashion, she got herself discharged early. The fact that I had to explain that we’re no longer residing in our homes, why, how and when it all happened made her pissed. Mainly, because if she’d been awake, half of the shit she wouldn’t have let happen.
Mom’s always had an impulsive nature around here, and whether her influence would be good given the shit we’ve had to deal with is yet to be determined. However, the moment she was free from the hospital, she went straight home. Meaning, all of our men have been working overtime today to try and get the place back to exactly how she left it. It’s a hassle, if anything, but if it’ll make her happy then I’m keeping my mouth shut.
Our family doctor has been visiting four times a day, to monitor her condition and spoon feed her medication because, yes — she’s been refusing to take them. She hates being seen as weak, but she was in a coma for months, of course her body has weakened. There’s nothing shameful about that, in my eyes. In hers, however, it’s like her body has committed a crime against her. With some guilt trips from me and Aria, she’s at least been resting…Thank fuck, and we told her she has to listen to the doctor and not over exhaust herself. All she’s been doing is reading books, knitting and having people over. Of course, Aria’s always right there, seeing everyone and everything as a threat.
I close the door of Mom’s room behind me, sighing.
“What is it?” Cove asks, and I motion with my head toward the stairs.
I need someone’s perspective, and since Blair isn’t here, so Cove will have to do.Fuck, with each day, I miss my Butterfly more and more. This is just proof that I would never be able to live a life without her in it. She’s my entire life now, and I live and breathe for her. I’m just hoping I get to see her again soon. It's killing me to respect her wishes but I trust her when she says this is what she needs to do. The only positive in this situation is that I know for a fact she’s unharmed.
Cove follows me downstairs to the kitchen area, and I pour myself a glass of water. He’s looking at the glass with narrowed eyes, almost as if he’s waiting for me to toss it aside, and switch it with alcohol. I’ve been sober since the day I left the rehabilitation center, and although I’m fairly confident I could handle a glass or two without it turning into an addiction again, I’m not ready to test the theory just yet. Maybe sometime, a few years down the line.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mom is in denial about Dad’s death,” I sigh.
“Well, maybe it’s because he isn’t dead.”
“You and I know that,” I drawl out. “No one else knows, though. And he wants to keep it that way for a little while longer. I’m certain that by now, the news of Mom waking up has reached his ears. It’s odd that he’s silent.”
The day I went to identify his body was the first time I quite literally beat the shit out of my father. The morgue was empty, and there was a singular body that was covered with a white sheet. Just by looking at it, I knew it wasn’t Dad. His body was different, and he hadn’t been dead for a long time for his body to start decaying at such a rapid state. The motherfucker was hiding in the morgue. After a mini-heart attack, and a small screaming match, I punched him. The weird thing is, he allowed me to punch him, time and time again, until his entire face was bloody and bruised.
He deserves far more, but there was no time for me to actually give him a beating he’ll remember.
That day, it was as though I’d come alive.
It’s shocking how much his ‘death’ has impacted my ability to think straight, though Dad is proud. He told me as much; saying how much he needed me to pull my head out my ass and do something.
Now, the fact that I’m lying to both Mom and Aria weighs heavily on my heart. After everything we’ve been through, I hate having to lie to them – even if it’s for their own good.
“It’s Hudson... He always has a reason.”
I snort. “Yes, but I’m the one lying and covering for him. It’s not easy, Cove. I’m lying to the people I love the most and at some point, sooner or later, they will find out about it.”
Cove whistles. “Ah, I don’t want to be in your shoes when Noah finds out her baby boy has been lying to her, all hell will break loose.”
I groan, and the mockery in his tone isn’t helping. “Fuck off, Cove.”
“Alright, alright,” Cove lifts his arms up in surrender, though the smirk doesn’t falter from his face. “That’s not the only thing that’s been bothering you, is it?”
I sigh. “No. There’s... well.. Luna.”
Silence falls over us, and he looks away. The topic is sensitive on its own, and although I knew that it’d be me who has to tell Mom of Luna’s passing, it’s still something that’s wrecking me on the inside.
“How do I tell her that the niece she spent the past decade searching for, is dead? And that her only son… killed her?”
“Look,” Cove starts speaking, all the previous amusement gone from his face. “It’s a difficult conversation, for sure, and although Noelle is going to be a fucking wreck when she finds out, she won’t blame you.”
