'Til Death - Part 2 (3 page)

“You need a doctor,” I say frantically, sitting her on the couch.

“No, I just need to lie down.”

“Mom,” I yell. “You need a doctor!”

“We can’t afford one,” she whispers. “Katia, I’m fine.”

It’s like a punch to the stomach. Fire scorches my heart, until I feel nothing but a burning pain radiating through my body. She didn’t tell me because she knows we can’t afford treatment.

“How long has this been going on?”

She stares at me, her eyes empty.

“Mom,” I prompt. “Please?”

“On and off for a few weeks.”

My chest feels as if it’s going to explode. She’s been in agony, probably something severe, maybe another tumor, and she’s kept it to herself because she knows there’s no way under the sun we can afford help. Tears trickle down my cheeks and I kneel in front of her. “I’ll get some help, I swear.”

“Katia, you can barely afford to feed Penny. We don’t have the money.”

Another slam to my chest. “I’ll find a way. I’ll work longer, I’ll—”

“Katia . . .”

Tears pour harder now, until I can’t see through them. “Mom,” I croak. “I’m going to fix this.”

She strokes my cheek. “Penny is everything right now, sweetheart. She needs you to take care of her.”

“I dragged you out here.” I hiccup. “This is my fault.”

“You didn’t drag me anywhere. I needed a fresh start, too . . .”

“But you didn’t need hell,” I cry.

She came with me, purely because she knew she couldn’t survive on her own. She’s always been optimistic, but I know what moving out here has done to her. I’m selfish. I should never have taken her away.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if we were there, or here. The situation is the same. You were pregnant, without a job. We would have struggled more there, with the price of rent and . . .”

“Mom,” I whisper.

“Katia, it’s fine. You did the very best you could. I can hardly complain, I’m your burden, and—”

“God, Mom, stop.”

“Katia,” she cuts me off. “We couldn’t have survived; you know it. I chose to come with you. I made the choice.”

“Mom.”

“I’m going to lie down. Please, don’t worry yourself. I’ll be all right in the morning.”

She disappears down the hall and Dusty’s words come back to me. I’m hiding out here for me; I’m not thinking of her or Penny. I’m thinking of myself.

I need to go back, I need to face and divorce Marcus so I can finally move on. Then I need to see if there’s a way my father can at least help my mom get the help she needs. He will help her; I just know he will.

I know what I have to do.

I walk into the kitchen, digging through my purse until I find my phone. I pull out a phonebook and find
Penner Holdings
, then I dial the number, trembling as it rings.

“Penner Holdings, Jane speaking.”

“Hi Jane,” I whisper. “I was wondering if Pierre still worked there?”

“No, he doesn’t. But I have his contact number.”

“Please.”

She gives it to me and I thank her, hanging up. I stare down at the number for a long time, debating if I have the guts to do this. Then I hear the sound of my mother throwing up, and I know I have no choice. I have to fix this. I dial the number, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Pierre speaking.”

I open my mouth but nothing comes out. God.

“Hello?”

“Dad?” I croak, not even grasping how easily that word slipped from my lips.

“Katia?” he whispers.

“It’s me.”

“Christ. Where are you? Where have you been?”

“It doesn’t matter right now. I need your help.”

“What’s going on?” His voice is low, concerned.

“It’s Mom. She’s sick. I can’t afford to . . .”

“Where are you?” he demands, not even letting me finish.

I rattle off our location, our situation and what I need to do.

“Katia,” he murmurs, low. “Honey, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I needed to get out of there. I had no choice.”

He sighs. “He’s been looking for you, you know?”

My skin prickles at the mention of him. “Please, don’t. I just need to end this with him, and figure out a way to sort my life out with Mom.”

“If she’s unwell, you can’t pack her up and move her now. She needs immediate treatment; going on a plane, or for a long car ride isn’t safe. I’m going to come out there, stay with her while you come back and sort out your issues with Marcus. I’ll pay for some help; get her fixed up. Then when you’re done, we can figure out what to do from there.”

“Really?” I whisper.

“Things are good for me now. I’m out of all the illegal business and I’m running my own company. I can afford to help her. Katia, I would have helped you, too.”

“You understand that at the time, I wasn’t thinking like that. I needed to be away, far, far away. I just wanted to start again . . .”

“I understand. I’m going to look into flights. I’ll text you with my arrival.”

“Thank you. I mean that.”

“You can stay at my house while I’m gone. You’ll be sharing with Ford, but he’ll stay out of your way.”

Ford. My brother.

“Okay.”

“I’ll be in touch. Hang in there, Katia.”

M
y dead eyes stare at the man hanging from the wall, my hands tight around his throat. He’s dangling there like a pathetic rag doll. His blue eyes are bulging and his mouth is opening and closing on continual gasps. He’s got his fingernails tearing into the flesh on my wrists as he tries to pry himself free, but nothing will help him now.

“There has to be something,” I growl, lifting him off the wall and slamming him back again.

“I looked,” he gasps. “There’s nothing.”

“There’s always something,” I bark. “I paid you good money to find her.”

“And I’ve tried. She’s not in the state anymore . . . if you want me to look farther, you’ll have to pay me more.”

“For what? You’re pathetic. Waste of money. Give it back.”

He eyes bug and he gasps. “No.”

“Give. It. Back.”

“I heard you were a ruthless bastard but this is low, even for you,” he wheezes.

I stare up at the sky, take a breath, and then lower my hardened eyes back to his. “Give. Me. The. Mother. Fuckin’. Money.”

“I don’t have it. It’s gone. You’ve paid me. I’ve done the job. I never promised to get answers.”

“For the money I fuckin’ paid, you should have. Now, give me the fuckin’ cash or I’ll end you.”

His eyes bug. “You’re seriously fucked up.”

I pull out my gun, pressing it to his forehead. “You have no fuckin’ idea.”

~*~*~*~

M
y father arrives the next afternoon. By then, Mom isn’t really picking up. He hires a car and when he pulls up at our apartment and gets out, I see his expression drop. He hasn’t changed a bit; he’s still tall, dark and handsome. I step out the front door and his eyes soften when he sees me. But as usual, I see the pity in them.

“Katia . . .”

“Hi,” I whisper, walking over.

He reaches out, stroking a thumb down my cheek. “I didn’t know.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Does she know I’m coming?”

I nod.

“Come in.”

I lead him inside and he halts suddenly. I know why. He’s laid his eyes on Penny, who is perched on the couch beside Mom. She’s holding onto Mom’s blanket, shoving the end into her mouth and drooling all over it.

“Holy shit,” he breathes.

“Dad,” I say, softly. “Meet Penny. My daughter.”

His eyes dart over her, then flick to me. “Katia . . .”

“Please, not now.
Please
?”

He nods and turns to my Mom. “Hi Sandra.”

“Hello Pierre.”

“How are you feeling?”

She shrugs, but I see it pains her. So does he. They share a look that lasts so long I feel as if I’m invading a personal moment between the two of them.

“I’ve already called the doctor in,” he finally says. “He’ll arrive in the next hour or so.”

Thank God.

He turns to me. “I’ve gotten you a plane ticket . . . I didn’t know about, ah, Penny. I’ll add her on. It leaves in three hours.”

“Thank you.”

He reaches out, stroking my cheek. “Dusty will be waiting at the airport for you. I told him you were coming.”

“And Ford?”

“He’s aware, he’ll be fine.”

I nod. “I should pack.”

I hurry down the hall, giving them time together. I know Mom is slightly uncomfortable with my father being here, but she also knows she doesn’t have a choice. I hate that I have to go, but it’s time I end this properly with Marcus. I don’t know why he hasn’t divorced me, but I can’t keep hanging on.

I need to let this bitterness go.

I need to move on.

I’m sure he’s suffered, too. After all, the moment I left he would have lost everything. I’m sure he wants to move on with his life as much as I want to move on with mine. He probably hates me for leaving as much as I hate him. I can’t be married to him for the rest of my life, I can’t hide from him for the rest of my life, the only way for me and my little family to be truly happy is to go back and face my demons, and end them.

It’s time to face this.

~*~*~*~

“S
weetheart.”

I look up from my packing to see Mom. She’s in the doorway, sitting in her chair staring at me sadly. I try to smile, but it comes out wobbly. I don’t want to leave her; the very idea has my heart clenching. I know I have to, though. I don’t have a choice. She needs me to do this as much as I do.

We can’t live here forever.

“Hey,” I whisper.

She pushes off the doorframe and wheels over, then with a struggle she brings herself up to sit on the bed beside me. She reaches out, taking my hand and holding it firmly in hers.

“You’re doing a brave thing, Katia.”

“Am I?” I whisper. “It seems so much easier to just stay here.”

“That’s not fair, for you or Penny.”

“Or you.”

Her face scrunches in pain. “You shouldn’t have to take care of me forever.”

“Why not, Mom?” I croak. “You’ve taken care of me.”

A tear runs down her cheek. “When this is done, we’ll start again. If it’s back there, or somewhere else, we’ll do it. Pierre has said he’ll pay for my care so you can—”

“Mom, no,” I whisper. “No.”

“It’s okay. Let him help us.”

“No, it’s not okay. It’s me and you; we’ve been in this together from the start. I’m not going to just hand you over . . .”

“You won’t be,” she assures me. “He’ll just be helping us so we can enjoy life instead of struggling through it.”

“I’ll divorce Marcus, sort this out, and we’ll figure something out, okay? Just . . . don’t make any decisions until I come back.”

She nods. “Of course not.”

“I’m going to miss you. I hate that I have to leave you because of him.”

She nods, understanding. “I’m sure if he could have found you, he might have divorced you and we wouldn’t be here.”

Ouch.

“I doubt he looked.”

That’s a stupid statement, considering I know he did. It feels better to just push that down and pretend he never cared that I left.

“No, you’re probably right.”

“I won’t be gone long; a few days at most. I’m so sorry I have to go.”

She cups my cheek. “You’ve given your life for me, Katia. You’ve worked yourself into the ground, always taking care of me. Go and finish this, because it’s about time you got something back.”

Tears run down my cheeks. “I’d do it all over again, Mom. Every second.”

She smiles weakly. “I love you. You make me so proud.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

This isn’t going to be easy.

T
he plane ride was long and draining. Penny kept me awake the entire time and my mind was constantly turning because I left Mom. It was hard. I didn’t want to go. The butterflies in my stomach have gotten to the point where they’re making me feel sick. I don’t honestly know how I can face that man. I don’t like it, but I know I
have
to.

Dusty and Candy are waiting for me when I get off the plane. Tears prick my eyes as I see my long-lost best friends. Candy runs towards me, squealing and crying. She reaches us and throws her arms around Penny and me, catching us in a deep, but soft hug.

“Oh my God, Katia. Look how much Penny has grown.”

“She has,” I choke out.

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too.”

She pulls away and her eyes fall on Penny again. “Hello sweetheart, look at you!”

Penny reaches out, making a grab for her dangling necklace. Candy giggles and pulls her from my arms. I reach out to take her back, but drop my hands quickly. I’m not really used to having anyone else around Penny, except the few people I know. I do know my best friend, though, and I know she would never hurt my daughter.

Dusty walks over, pulling me into his arms. “You made the right choice.”

“I hope so,” I whisper.

“You have.”

We get my small bag and head to Dusty’s car. My father gave me some money, which I can nearly feel burning a hole in my pocket. I feel the need to protect it with my life, being that it’s been so long since I’ve had anything. I’m grateful that he is taking such good care of us. Candy chats happily away as we drive out to my father’s house, and I chat along as best I can. She tells me about her new job and how wonderful and non-assholey her boss is.

“I’m happy for you.” I smile.

She stares at me, and her smile wobbles. “I really, really missed you, Kat.”

I wrap an arm around her. “I’m here now.”

I just don’t know how long I’ll stay.

~*~*~*~

“T
hat’s your brother?” Candy hisses in my ear as we walk through my father’s massive house behind a very gruff, very broody Ford.

“Yep,” I mutter, bouncing Penny on my hip.

“Yum.”

“Candy!”

Ford flinches, which tells me he heard her. She giggles and I roll my eyes. Ford hasn’t changed. He’s still big, handsome and angry. He’d barely grunted my name when we’d arrived. Now he’s leading me to my room, still barely having looked at me.