“We will search for him, of course,” Tom said. “Oh, and Doyle was wearing a belt like the one we assume is the murder weapon when we found him, and we have secured it as evidence and sent it to the lab, where they are checking if that is the murder weapon.”
“That sick bastard,” I said. “I can’t believe he was right here under our noses this entire time.”
“I know. And as soon as you got too close for comfort, he made sure you got suspended. But good news is that Joe will be released later today, because Travis never pressed charges and, now that he is gone, the DA has decided to let Joe go. There’re no longer any grounds to keep him.”
I nodded, thinking about my husband. I wondered where he would go after this. Would he come back to the house? I would have to tell him to find his own place. We needed to separate. It was time.
“That is good news, thanks.”
I heard voices in the hallway, and seconds later my kids stormed inside of the room. Big Tom snuck out to give us privacy, while they jumped on my bed, and I winced in pain, but it was worth it. Even Charlene was there, but she stayed a few steps behind, her eyes avoiding mine. I hugged Zack and William as tight as I could without screaming in pain, then looked at her. I reached out my hand toward her.
“You’re not gonna say hello?” I asked, my voice strained and hoarse. “Your momma almost died and you’re not gonna hug her?”
She gave me a reluctant look. I could tell she had been crying.
“Come here, you,” I said.
She came closer, and I grabbed her hand, then pulled her the last bit of the way.
“Is it true you almost died?” she asked.
“Ah, don’t believe everything you hear,” I said. “I’m tougher than that.”
“That was pretty cool how you saved that child and her mother who had been kidnapped for years. It’s all over the news.”
I smiled. “You think that was cool, huh?”
“Yeah. Everyone is talking about it.”
“So, they’re not all talking about me being a lesbian anymore?”
She shrugged.
My mom came in through the door. She looked awkward.
“I was just… I brought them here, to see you, and I thought I’d just—”
“I’m glad you did, Mom,” I said, interrupting her. I knew we had our differences, and she had a hard time accepting me for who I am. But right now, I was just happy to see her. Sometimes a person just needs their mom.
“Your dad is here too,” she said. “Waiting outside. The kids have been staying with us while you were getting better.”
“Yeah,” Zack exclaimed. “And I got to help Grandpa fix the old car. He is teaching me everything I need to know.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said and kissed my son as he slid down from my bed. William sat on the edge, and I grabbed his hand. “Hey there, buddy. You okay?”
He nodded with an exhale. “You know I don’t care, right?”
“About what?”
“About you being a lesbian and all that.”
That made me laugh. “That’s good, buddy, I’m glad, because it isn’t going to change.”
He shrugged. “So what?”
My eyes met my mom’s and I realized he was right. So what? was the answer. For both of us. So what if we didn’t see eye-to-eye? We were family.
She came closer.
“William is right,” she said, like she had read my mind. “What business is it of mine or of anyone else’s? As long as you’re happy, my girl.”
She tapped the top of my hand with her palm, and I could tell she was fighting her tears.
“Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it.”
She sniffled and corrected a lock of my hair. “Are they going to let you go home soon?”
I nodded. “I hope so. I’m already tired of this bed.”
“That’s good,” she said and cleared her throat. “I’ll go tell your dad you’re awake. He’s been waiting for hours. He’ll be happy to know you’re better. He was really worried.”
She turned and left. I knew she wasn’t only talking about my father. I understood now that I was her daughter and she loved me. And I knew that she had been here all the time. I was sure of it.
And there was another thing I was sure of at this moment. We were all going to be okay.
Because we had one another. And that was all we needed.
* * *
