I click the leave button on screen and pull the mask from my head, taking a deep breath of air into my lungs.
The crescent moon shines bright in the starry sky as I stare out the window. Thoughts of making her mine flash through my head. Could I make her fall in love with me? Then when I revealmyself, she’d have no choice but to accept its me. Or would she hate me for it?
17
LILLY
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d paid for the next year?” my sister says, walking into the room.
“Shh. Mum’s asleep,” I whisper-yell at my sister as she bounds in with Harry following behind.
She drops her bag and coat on the bottom of Mum’s bed and whispers, “I’ve been visiting care homes looking for somewhere cheaper, and I just found out that she’s paid up here until the end of next year. Where did you get the money?”
I furrow my brow, wondering what the heck she’s talking about. “Are you on medication?”
“What?” She digs her fist into her hip and flicks her hair over her shoulder.
“I haven’t paid for anything. What are you talking about?” I stand and make my way out of the room.
Fern and Harry follow, and we close the door, leaving Mum to sleep.
“Come to the reception with me.” Fern throws her bag over her shoulder and clasps Harry’s hand as she struts down the hall. “I had an email saying that the payment was successful.”
“But who—” My hand flies over my mouth. The pulse in my necks quickens. If my shadow in the mask has paid for Mum’s care, Fern’s going to ask questions.
“That’s what I’m about to find out.” Her heeled boots click on the laminate floor as we step into the reception area. “I thought you’d won the lottery or something.”
I let my sister do the talking at the desk while I watch Harry play with the toy car garage in the corner of the reception. A million thoughts race through my head. It couldn’t possibly be Ash when I’m the one giving him money.
If it is my mystery masked man, then he must know who I am and how to find me. I’ve always thought I was careful, using a PO Box instead of my actual address. Maybe Hazel’s right, and he’s a former patient.
Fern wanders over to us, her face as white as the hospital sheets.
“What is it?”
She stares at me with wide eyes as if she’s seen a ghost, or worse, my masked man. “It’s Shane.”
I spin around to look through the large reception window, my stomach fluttering like it does whenever he’s around. “Where?”
“He’s paid for Mum’s care. Well, the top-up fees needed for the care package.” She shows me the printout of the receipt from reception with his signature.
Mr Shane Carter.
“Why would he do this?” I look between the paper and my sister. It’s not a small amount, and he’s paid for a year in advance.
“Has he said anything to you?” Fern pulls her brows inwards.
I shake my head. “Not a thing. Although he was here last week.”
“He came here?”
“Mum remembers him, you know. She was talking as if you were still married.”
Fern paces around the small reception area, weaving through the seating area situated around a coffee table. “Has he asked about me?” She stops in her tracks. “I’m enjoying getting to know Ant. I really like him.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Because between Mum talking like we’re still an item and then Shane paying for her top-up fees, it’s a little awks.”
