Chapter 88
Chapter 91
Harper
I can’t take my eyes off my momma. It is like seeing a new woman just off the catwalk or from a magazine cover for one of those mags that is like, oh, I don’t know – Homes & Gardens or something. She doesn’t seem to fit in a rehab center.
“It’s really me, sweetheart. Come here, let me cuddle you,” Momma says. Damn even her voice sounds different. It’s not hoarse or brittle or angry anymore. It sounds soft and gentle, full of love.
Taylor wraps her arms fiercely around my mother as if she is scared to let go, like a baby monkey holding on to its mother for dear life. The scene unfolds in front of my amazed eyes making my heart stutter. Is that a thing? A stuttering heart? It is now. Usually, I would have assumed only in a romance novel or for lovers, but honestly it has stuttered.
“Harper?” Momma says tilting her head to the side. Her smile is wide and infectious making me smile back. God, please don’t want to slay me but seeing my momma so elegant, so put together and so downright healthy makes me scared shitless that it won’t last.
What if is a veneer and when she gets out, she goes back to her old ways? Is this bad to think like this? I mean please don’t get me wrong, I want it to last forever. Seeing momma like this makes me want her to be like this always and yet I am tinged also with sadness for the mother we didn’t have growing up.
My counsellor who I saw after the attack those weeks ago did touch on the subject of my mother coming out of rehab. She told me to expect to have a whole host of conflicting emotions ranging from elation to feeling anger and bitterness. When I queried her on the anger and bitterness, she explained that it had to do with the fact I was the mother in the house and that I would be angry at my mother for taking this long to get her act clean. Apparently, it is perfectly normal and my emotions will settle down.
I tentatively walk towards my mother as the other woman looks on. “You are ready,” she tells my momma who nods and turns to her as I reach my mother’s side. Her cool hand touches mine and searches to interlace her fingers. I allow to do so. The contact feels almost alien. How many years has it been since I’ve actually held my own mother’s hand? Taylor is still clinging to my mother who runs a hand down Taylor’s head and twirls her hair.
“I believe I am,” momma says. “Thank you so much for everything you have done for me and the new wardrobe. Oh, and the new hair. It feels like you have all given me my life back and I am eternally grateful to everyone who has helped me this last twenty-eight days. It’s been a battle and an uphill struggle, but you have all shown me what life is about and what I would be missing out on. So, from the bottom of my heart thank you so much.”
Taylor releases – finally, from my mother. Momma turns to hug the lady who reciprocates the action. I glance at my younger sister who has happy tears in her eyes. I give her a side hug. She smiles up at me and I realize how tall she actually is. Her head comes already to my shoulder, it won’t be long before she will be taller than me. I guess she gets her height genes from my daddy who stands over six foot.
“Remember if you need anything you have my number. The rest of life is now down to you. Be strong, be brave and grab every second as if it were your last.” Wow, words of wisdom that make me have a lump in my throat. Only, how many seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years were wasted? I need to stop thinking like this because honestly, I am happy my momma is clean and put together. I am happy she is coming home with us.
I’m scared. Scratch that, I am terrified that something will go wrong. Momma takes our hands in hers; we stand either side of her. “Are you ready girls? You both look so grown up. I have missed way too much time with my girls. But I want to make it right with you both,” she says as we begin to walk away from the office doors and through to the gleaming reception area.
“Did you get a taxi?” Momma asks. “Or are we getting the bus?” Of course, momma doesn’t know that I am seeing Levy or that he bought me a spanking, brand new car.
“I have a car now, Momma.”
She smiles, her lips form a perfect curve and her eyes shine, like really shine as if she is so proud of me and I’ve won an Oscar. “It was a present from her boyfriend,” Taylor shoots in. I give her a look to let her know that it is way too soon to be telling my mother about Levy.
Momma knows who Levy is, since he has been our neighbor for many years and she knows I dated his son. And on top of all of that – she will know that he is eighteen years older than me.
“A present from your boyfriend. Wow, that sounds pretty serious. Tell me about him, Sweetheart.” We exit the doors and the sky is a perfect shade of blue with fluffy, cotton wool clouds scattered, slowly drifting. It’s cool but not cold.
“We can talk about him later, Momma. Let’s get you home. We made a nice lunch for you and tomorrow we will be going out for the day to the next town. We thought you might like to do some shopping.”
I press the key fob for my car to unlock. The orange sidelights flash and momma’s eyes nearly bug out of their sockets. “A brand-new Volkswagen Beetle, Harper this must have cost a small fortune.”
I blush and stay quiet not exactly sure what to say. “Yeah, he’s pretty loaded, Momma,” Taylor fills in the silence.
“Come on, Momma in you get,” I tell her and shove Taylor and hiss at her.
“You need to keep your mouth zipped young lady; we are not discussing Levy until much later. Momma’s not even left the property grounds yet. Give her some time to adapt will you.”
Taylor glowers at me and gets in the back of the car. Momma takes the passenger seat and hooks the seat belt across her body and latches it in. I get in and close the door and place the key in the ignition.
“It smells so new; I love this smell. I can’t remember the last time except for when I was with your daddy and we were much younger, that I smelt a brand-new car.”
“Are you absolutely sure you are ready, Momma? To go home I mean. Things are different we did the place up and got rid of a lot of stuff.”
She places her hands on her lap, I notice the pale pink color on her short nails. Even they look elegant and classy.
“As ready as I ever will be.” She glances at me and inhales deeply. “Yes, I am ready. There’s no going back now children.”
I put the car in reverse and move from the parking bay. From the corner of my eye, I see someone dressed in black on my right side. I turn my head and notice a man in black biker gear leaning against a black mean looking Harley. His arms are folded across his chest, one ankle crossed over the other.
For a hot second I thought it was Levy come to check that everything has gone okay with the check out of momma. And then I see him take his right hand and make a throat slitting action in front of his throat!