Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
He turns a fraction of the way to look at me. “Avoiding it will only make you regret it, Jenny.”
“I know.” I drop my head and pull out my cellphone. “I should call.”
He bobs his head. “Want some privacy?”
“No. It’s okay.” I walk to the chair with the ottoman in the corner and sit on it. I try and relax against the cushion, but I can’t.
I am on edge now. Just knowing I’ll have to hear her voice is enough to repulse me. It makes me sick knowing that I feel this way toward the very woman who birthed me.
A hand massages my shoulder. I look up to meet calm green eyes. “Relax, babe. It’s just a phone call.”
“Right.” I breathe in through my nostrils and exhale through parted lips. I scroll through my call log until I find the number she’s called from a thousand times.
I press it, and then I lift the phone to my ear, glancing at Drake before focusing on my Carolina blue toenails.
The phone rings three times, the dull hum of it making my head spin, and then—finally—there is an answer.
“Jennifer?” Mom’s hurried voice comes through the receiver and it catches me completely off guard. It’s way softer than I thought. Lighter. “Jennifer? Is that you?”
I sit up straight. This can’t be her. She’s not shouting or sounding bitchy. “Mom?”
“Yes. Jenny. It’s me. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for weeks now.”
I look at Drake who is now sitting on the edge of the bed. He has his arms folded, an eyebrow quirked up. “Um… Mom… is everything okay? You sound… different.”
She releases a shaky breath. “I’m okay. Never better actually.” She pauses, and it is dead silent until she speaks up again.
“How are you doing? How have you been?”
“I’m… good. Thanks for asking.”
“That’s good.” It’s quiet again. “Look, I know I’m the last person you want to talk to right now, so let me cut right to the chase while I have this chance. I’ve been calling because I need to discuss some things with you… about the past. About your father. And Mitchell.”
Mitchell’s name reminds me of nails on a chalkboard. And the fact that she actually said it with a steady voice astounds me.
“Like what?” I inquire.
“It’s a lot, Jennifer. I just—well, sweetie, I would love it if you came back to Fox River so we can talk in person. I don’t feel okay with how I treated you or what I put you through. I’ve made a change in myself—with my life—and the only thing I seek is your forgiveness. I don’t want to do this over the phone, so I’m just wondering if you think you can come to Fox River anytime soon? So we can talk? I know school is over. I’ll even cook dinner for you.”
I look up at Drake. He’s confused by my dumbfounded expression.
“Um… yeah. Sure.” I stand up, walking towards the window. “Is Dad around?”
“He’s… away.”
I frown. By the way she says it, she makes it sound like he’s died or something. “Away? Where?”
“Your father and I… we are no longer together.” I gasp and start to speak but she cuts in. “I can explain when I see you in person. I know this is the last thing you want to hear, but I need to tell you what I can. You are my only daughter—the only child I have left on this earth. I don’t want things to be like this between us. Not anymore. I won’t be able to live with myself.”
I blink my tears away, nodding rapidly. “O-okay. I… um… I was planning on coming to Fox River anyway to do some stuff with someone. I’ll be sure to stop by the house.”
“Oh—ah. I’m not at the house anymore actually. Remember your uncle Ned?”
“The priest?”
“Yes. I am living with him at the moment.”
“Oh.” But what I really want to ask is what in the living fuck is going on? She despises Uncle Ned.
“Yeah,” she sighs. “As you can see, things have drastically changed, but I would love to see you, Jennifer. There is a lot I know you’d like to get off of your chest and there is a lot I know you deserve to hear me say so…”
“Right.”
“Just call me when you’ve landed in Fox River. I will be waiting—but I’ll understand if you don’t show up.”
“Stop, Mom. I will be there. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.” She sounds so elated. So relieved. This is not the witch of the mother I used to know. “Great. I’m glad. I can’t wait to see you, sweetie.”
“Yeah,” I breathe. “Same here.”
She says goodbye and I lower my phone when she hangs up, staring at it as if it’s been set on fire. I turn rapidly to look at Drake and he’s in the same position—arms folded, brow quirked, lips smashed together.