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“Mom, you need to get healthy. It’s time.” Remi speaks to her as if he’s soothing a child. “When you get out, we’ll be right here waiting.” He holds his hand out to her, and she doesn’t hesitate to take it. “There is a very special little girl I can’t wait for you to meet.”
My tears well up again. I swear I never cried this much in my entire life.
Remi’s grin is hopeful. “She’s amazing, and she’s going to love you.”
“Jackson too, Mom. He needs his grandmother, just like we did when we were growing up.” She walks over and holds her mother’s free hand. “You can do this.” Kiara’s voice cracks on the last word. “Please, we need you.”
There isn’t a dry eye in the room. My peripheral sight catches Detective Gracyk discreetly wiping under her eye.
“I need you too.” Evangeline volleys between her children. “Both of you.” Her face crumples. “I’m so sorry for everything. I know I tried to get clean before, and I know I let you down.” She takes a cleansing exhale. “I think I can do it this time. Without Arthur around, feeding into my addiction.” Eva musters a small smile. “When all I have to look forward to… You are my strength.” A sob concaves her chest. “My whole heart.”
We all hug Evangeline before she leaves. She takes a moment to cradle my chin, and although she doesn’t say a word, gratitude swirls in her brown irises.
When Mrs. Fairchild leaves the room, she takes all the heavy emotion with her. Though, the air is still charged with tension.
Detective Gracyk pulls a folder out of the messenger bag she’s carrying. “After forensics examined the footage of the street cam, we found a primary suspect. But no motive.” She surveys us with a keen stare. “We’re hoping you three can help fill in the blanks.”
Gracyk opens the folder and hands a document to Remi. “Do you recognize this woman?”
His forehead creases, and his brows smash together. “Yeah, she tried to pick me up at the grocery store. She got too close to Isabel, and I basically told her to back off.” He studies the picture a little more. “She said her name was Bree.”
Officer Taylor gestures to Kiara and me to come closer to view the image. I only need to see the signature sweep of hair, and all the blood drains out of my body, the floor dropping out from under my feet. Anguish rips through me, stabbing and slashing at my flesh. Every cut stings like I’m being eaten alive by angry hornets. All her abominations hide behind a pretty smile. The longer I stare at the image, the more inventive I become planning her demise.
Rage ignites in my gut, and every gulp of oxygen I take in stokes a fire for vengeance. The blaze will not subside until it gets blood. I realize the only difference between me and a cold-blooded killer is the right provocation. And I just found it.
“It’s Aubry Laurel Laughtin.” My voice is monotone, my mouth dry. I shudder, enraged. “She’s my step-sister. She wasn’t going after Remi. She wanted Isabel.” My legs turn into cooked spaghetti and I go down, my whole being shattering on the bleached linoleum floor.
It’s been said that the best way to get back at an adversary is to move on and be happy. While Remi’s recovery is remarkable and Isabel is healthy, it’s difficult for me to not think about all the ways I could annihilate Aubry.
I gave Remi quite a scare when I passed out. In the small midnight hours when we whisper our secrets across his pillow, he asked me to forgive my step-sister.
At first, I was pissed. How could he ask that of me? She wanted to hurt Isabel. She almost killed him. For what? Jealousy? Revenge? Fun? I’ll never wrap my head around it.
But he didn’t want what happened in the past to oppress our future, which is bright and full of happiness. He said that forgiveness is for my peace, not my step-sister’s.
He’s right, of course, but every time I think about it, I thirst for blood.
I made a promise to never be reckless again, and I intend to keep it. As much as it pains me to sit aside and let the law take over, I will. For Remi and Isabel.
Officer Taylor and Detective Gracyk ensured that Aubry would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Her crime showed premeditation. She had been stalking me for a while. Just the thought sends tremors through my joints. There were so many times we were vulnerable, and I’m not sure how I’ll be able to move forward without constantly watching my back.
My mother vomited when she found out, then apologized—profusely.
In another life, I would have felt some sort of satisfaction that I’d been right, but now, it just feels petty. When you’ve been through true trauma, everything else is unnecessary grief.
I couldn’t blame her. There is some part of Aubry that’s broken, and the crack started way before Charlotte and I came along. A guilt-ridden Randy offered to pay for Remi’s medical expenses, but I declined. As long as I have the people I love in my life, I don’t need anything else.
Except, there is just one more thing…
Chapter 29
Two Months Later...
Remi
It was a week before I was finally discharged from the hospital and Mae brought me home. To her home. Which, I guess, is now my home. I have zero complaints about it.
We turned half her living room into a temporary bedroom for both of us since the stairs are still a challenge. I’m not as steady on my feet since the accident. I have physical therapy five days a week, and it’s hell but necessary. I’m determined to get back to a hundred percent. If only to take over the kitchen before Mae really does poison me.
