Page 32 of Crucified By the Dark
Jeremy nodded toward the door where she was hiding, then walked down the hall and out of sight. Pushing open the emergency door, she slipped out to peek down the hallway where Jeremy had gone. Morry could just make out Jeremy talking to Andrew, who was sitting in the hall. She had no idea what Jeremy said, but they walked away from Kyle’s room in the opposite direction.
Jeremy had just earned himself whatever roleplay session he wanted because she would never have gotten into that room without him. Time to move.
Morry marched down the hall and watched as Jeremy led Andrew into another room. She watched the numbers until she got to two-thirteen, then slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
“Morry?”
She would know that voice anywhere. Morry spun around and came face to face with the woman who was once her best friend.
“Lindsay?”
She looked the same, a little older, like the rest of them, but she was still beautiful with her ability to look like she’d just stepped off the pageant stage without even trying. Morry had always envied that in Lindsay and how guys would physically run over anyone to get at her. How many times had she been pushed into a locker because the latest new guy decided he wanted to speak to Lindsay? She became obsolete and completely invisible. Guess it was her fault for remaining friends with someone like that and marrying someone like Andrew, who was always overly friendly with her so-called best friend. She should’ve seen the affair coming.
“Morry, what are you doing here? If Andrew catches you in here, he’ll will call the police.”
Crossing her arms, she glared at the woman she thought she knew. They’d grown up together, done everything together, and yet when Morry needed her best friend the most, she fucked Andrew and helped destroy her marriage.
“Like you fucking care what happens to me. I didn’t even know the two of you were still together. Andrew never mentions you.”
It was a low blow, but she didn’t care. The old anger Morry thought was long squashed rekindled at the sight of Lindsay’s pretty face.
“I guess I deserve that,” Lindsay said.
“You deserve a lot more than that. I trusted you. You were my best friend, and you took my husband, my home, and now my son from me,” Morry growled, barely managing to keep her voice low.
“Mom?” Kyle’s sleepy voice extinguished any anger that had been brewing.
Morry rushed to Kyle’s side and grabbed her son’s hand as he rubbed at his eyes with the other.
“Yeah, sweetie, it’s me. I’m so sorry that I haven’t been to see you.” She smiled wide as she stared into her son’s handsome face. He was the one thing in the world she could say with certainty she’d done right. He was incredible and she loved him unconditionally.
He looked so different. Every week he was a little more grown up, but the sickly shade of his skin had the threads of panic making Morry’s heart race.
“It’s okay. I know Dad won’t let you see me.”
Her eyes grew wide with shock. She hadn’t expected Andrew to be honest. The man didn’t know the meaning of the word. “Your Dad said that?”
“No, Lindsay told me. I asked why you hadn’t come by, and she said that Dad was being all weird ‘cause I said I wanted a leather jacket. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble mom.” He lifted a shoulder, his face falling.
“No, don’t you ever think any of this is on you. What your father and I argue about is only because we both love you and want what’s best, we just don’t always see eye-to-eye on what that is. You did nothing wrong.”
Morry looked over her shoulder to Lindsay. “I’m going to wait outside and give you two a few minutes, but if Andrew comes back….”
“Yeah, I know. Your loyalty only runs so deep,” Morry said.
Lindsay bit her lip but didn’t say anything and slipped out the door.
“Hey, I don’t have much time, but here.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a phone and handed it over. “Don’t let your father know you have this. I even got the same cover, so if he catches you on it, he will think it’s your other one, but this way, we can text.”
The smile on Kyle’s face made the possibility of any wrath from Andrew worth it.
“Thanks, Mom.” He looked down at the phone, and his eyes were so much like an adult’s. He should be worrying about things like sports and dating, and parties.
“I’m working on finding you a liver. I have a few leads out, and you know that your mother doesn’t ever give up,” she said.
The corner of Kyle’s mouth pulled up. “Yeah, I know, but if not….”
“No, we are not going to talk about the possibility of another outcome.” She squeezed his arm like she’d done to Wolf. “I miss you, and I can’t wait until you’re healthy and out of this place. I found this gorgeous spot near Montana that I know you’ll love. Lots of fishing, and I spoke to a man who rescues bears. He has some that he said you could take your picture with.”
