I rubbed my face and took a deep breath. I wished I hadn’t. I needed a shower. I grabbed some clean clothes, made my way through the kitchen and living room, and stumbled into the bathroom. My eyes narrowed, then I leaned down and opened the cabinet door. A few seconds later, the clippers hummed as I ran them across my head, my dark hair falling into the sink. I brushed the hair off my face and shoulders and stared at my reflection. It’d been a long time since I’d had my hair so short, but it was time to try something different.
I turned on the water and stepped into the hot spray. My hands flattened against the wall as I stood under the water, hoping it would wash away the events of the last few days.
Minutes later, I grabbed the towel from the rack, dried, and dressed. The doorbell rang. My forehead creased. No one should be at the door. Mom was at work, and Garrett was at school.
The doorbell rang again, and I slipped into my jeans as I ran across the house and to the front door. I swung it open.
“Hi, hon,” Aunt Linda said, smiling.
“Hi, what are you doing here? You drove in from Kansas? Why didn’t Mom tell me you were coming?”
Aunt Linda stepped inside the house and wrapped me in a hug. “Your mom asked me to come down.”
“Why?” I asked as I pulled away and searched her face.
“She’s worried about you.”
I grabbed her suitcase and moved back, allowing her to enter the kitchen.
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice clipped as I closed the door behind her.
She walked through the kitchen and entered the living room as I rested her suitcase against the wall. “Your mom said you’ve skipped school the last few days.”
I ran my hand over my short, wet hair as I struggled with what to say. Aunt Linda and I had always been close, and I couldn’t lie to her.
“Can I get you anything?”
“You can cut the shit, Walker.”
A grin pulled at the corner of my mouth. The first time I’d half-ass-smiled since the night at the lake with Brittany. I walked to the couch and flopped into it. “I broke up with Brittany,” I said, releasing a heavy sigh.
“Oh,” she said as she sat in the recliner next to me.
“Please, don’t ask me how that makes me feel.”
“I won’t. I can already guess. Three years is a long time. Can I ask what happened?”
My gaze dropped to the floor and then traveled back up to her face. Her eyes were filled with kindness as I mulled over what to say. “She had an abortion without telling me she was even pregnant.”
I frowned as Aunt Linda’s eyes widened.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Twice.”
“What?”
“She did it twice without telling me. And all she said was that we needed better birth control.” I stared at the ceiling, attempting to stifle the burst of emotion inside my chest. I inhaled and shoved the gut-wrenching sadness aside.
“Walker, you know I don’t push my views, but you did the right thing. Someone like that—you deserve better. Someday you’ll find someone who loves you and shares the same things that you value.”
“Sure.”
“When you’re in high school, the world is really small and it’s hard to see past it. It’ll happen. You have your whole life ahead of you,” she said, smiling gently.
“It doesn’t feel like it. My entire world just got screwed.” I frowned at my choice of words. I wasn’t going to mention that Brittany had also cheated on me with one of my best friends. “How long are you staying?”
Aunt Linda leaned back in her chair and sighed. “As long as I need to…”
“For me? You shouldn’t have even come. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not the only reason I’m here. Your mom needs some help with a few things.”
“Like what?”
“After we get everything figured out, we’ll fill you in, but for now, you take care of yourself and try to move on from Brittany. It won’t happen overnight, but try.”
I nodded, but my stomach tightened as I scanned her face for any sign of what she was referring to. Aunt Linda had her counseling face on, though. There was no way I was getting any more out of her.
She glanced at the clock and tucked her short brown hair behind her ear. “I have an appointment to go to, but why don’t you find something to make everyone for dinner?”
“Seriously? I don’t wanna cook.”
“I know you don’t feel like doing anything, but it would mean a lot to me if you could have food on the table by six.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine, for you.”
“Thank you,” she said, standing and reaching for her purse. “I’ll see you tonight then.”
“Yeah,” I replied as she left.
The click of the door closing seemed louder than normal.
* * *
My conversation with Aunt Linda occupied my mind for the rest of the afternoon. Something wasn’t right. I tried to put my finger on what it might be as I prepared dinner. I took the pot off the stove as the front door opened at five minutes to six and everyone walked in.
“Oh, thank you,” Mom said, approaching me and kissing me on the cheek. “It’s good to see your appetite returning.” She patted my back, and a smile eased across her face. “Garrett, go wash up.”
“Looks good,” Garrett muttered as he passed me.
Mom shot me a look. “You two are being nice to each other? When did that happen?”
“Beats me,” I said, shrugging.
“Well, it’s a welcome change,” she said, pulling her chair out and sitting down.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Aunt Linda joined Mom at the table. “Thank you, Walker.”
I nodded as I strained the spaghetti noodles and placed them in a bowl. I put it on the table next to the meat sauce and parmesan cheese. Garrett slid into his chair and immediately grabbed a piece of garlic bread and stuffed it in his mouth. I shook my head as I sat down with everyone. I let Mom and Aunt Linda get their food first, and I frowned as Mom’s hand trembled while lifting the fork and placing noodles on her plate.
“Here, let me help,” Aunt Linda said, taking the serving utensil from Mom.
I looked at Garrett, but he was oblivious as usual. My gaze darted from Mom and back to Aunt Linda. What in the hell is going on?
“Mom?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been unusually tired,” she said.
I shot a look at Aunt Linda, but she was busy moving food around on her plate, avoiding eye contact with me.
“It’s nothing.” Mom reached for her water and took a drink. She coughed as she set the glass on the table. “See, just a little cough.”
“Mom?” I felt the color draining from my face. “You have blood on your mouth and hand.” My eyes widened as panic shot through me.
Mom flinched as she progressed into a full-on coughing fit. Blood seeped through her napkin.
“Walker, call 9-1-1,” Aunt Linda said as she jumped out of her chair.
I grabbed the phone and dialed the numbers. I glanced at Garrett, who sat frozen at the table. I gave them our home address and information as quickly as I could, then I slammed the phone down and stared at Mom. She was still coughing while Aunt Linda tried to help her.
I snapped out of my haze and hustled across the kitchen to Garrett. “Out, now.”
He glanced at me, his eyes glazing over. I leaned down to block his view of Mom. He didn’t need to see any more. He was only thirteen.
“She’s going to be fine. Look at me, focus on me right here.”
Garrett’s eyes shifted from Mom’s direction to mine.
“Listen.”
We could make out the distant sound of the ambulance’s siren.
“We need to move so they can help Mom. I want you to get up and go into your bedroom.”
“No, I can’t leave her,” he pleaded.
“She’s going to be okay. She probably has walking pn
eumonia. Remember you had that once? You were really tired and coughed a lot?”
Garrett nodded as hope filled his eyes.
“Go on, the ambulance is here. I’ll come get you in a few minutes, okay?”
I continued to block his view of Mom as he scooted his chair out and left the kitchen. I opened the door for the paramedics and stepped out of the way.
They placed her onto the stretcher and placed an oxygen mask over her face. My stomach flipped as they wheeled her by me, her face still smeared with blood.
“Mom,” I said, hurrying out of the house behind the team. I searched around frantically as they loaded her into the ambulance. I needed to help. I needed to do something for her.
“You riding with us?” one of the guys asked.
“I am,” Aunt Linda said as she stepped into the back of the ambulance and sat down. She grabbed Mom’s hand and squeezed it. “Walker, you and Garrett can meet us there,” she said, her voice drowning out against the siren.
The doors slammed shut, and almost as fast as they’d shown up, they were gone again.
I turned my head up toward the darkened sky and covered my face with my hands. What in the hell was going on? It was more than pneumonia, but I couldn’t think of what else to tell Garrett.
Shit. He was still in his bedroom.
I ran back inside and leaned into his bedroom. “Come on out.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Yeah. They’ll get her taken care of in no time. Grab your homework, and we’ll get to the hospital.”
I turned toward the phone and placed my hand on the receiver before I realized I couldn’t call Brittany.
Chapter 8
The smell of antiseptic and bleach stung my nose as we followed the nurse’s directions to Mom’s room.
“Stay here for a minute,” I said to Garrett.
I pushed her hospital door open and poked my head in. I saw my mom in a bed, a doctor, and Aunt Linda by her side. Aunt Linda held her finger up to me, so I nodded and backed out, shoving my hands into my pockets.
“The doctor is talking to her.”
“What do you think is wrong?” Garrett asked as his eyes filled with tears.
I patted him gently on the back, trying to provide him some comfort that I didn’t have to give. “Hard to tell.”
Five minutes later, the doctor exited Mom’s room, and the door shut softly behind him. I tapped my foot on the tile floor, impatiently waiting for Aunt Linda to come get us. I paced the hallway as Garrett leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
Aunt Linda stepped into the hall. “Walker, come on in. I’ll stay with Garrett for a few minutes while you talk to your Mom.”
I brushed past her and stopped abruptly. The machines beeped as I struggled to understand how Mom had gone from eating dinner to coughing up blood and in the hospital. She turned her head toward me, attempting a smile. Her eyes seemed bluer against her pale face.
“Mom,” I said as I gently sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand. I placed her cold fingers between my palms as I tried to warm them up. “What’s wrong?”
She removed the oxygen mask from her face.
“No,” I said, replacing it. “You don’t have to talk right now. I can wait.”
She removed the mask again and struggled to take a deep breath. “It’s okay,” she said, her voice hoarse.
I held her hand and waited for her to give the answers I so desperately needed and dreaded at the same time.
“Walker, I have lung cancer,” she whispered.
“What?” I choked.
“I’ve been getting treatment, but it’s not working.”
“What the hell? Why would you keep something like that from me?”
“Honey, I’d hoped to give you good news when I told you. That it was a thing of the past…”
I hopped off the bed and ran my hands over my hair. “What does this mean?” My voice cracked with emotion.
“Walker, I’m dying.”
“No! Don’t say that! It’s not true!” A sob escaped me as her dark words seeped inside. “This isn’t happening. Where’s the doctor? Goddammit, they have to do something.”
I rushed out the door, past Garrett and Aunt Linda, and straight for the nurses’ station.
I pounded my hand on the desk. “Save her!”
“Sir, you need to settle down,” the nurse said calmly.
“Where’s the doctor? Why isn’t he in there with her?” I asked, pointing toward Mom’s room as tears streamed down my cheeks. “Don’t let her die. Please, she’s my Mom.”
I turned before they could respond and located the hallway with the elevator. I couldn’t breathe. My hands shook as I jabbed the number one button over and over. I had to get out of there.
* * *
I ran out of the hospital, through the parking lot, across the highway, and into the park. I ran until I was wheezing, gasping for air. I collapsed on my knees as my fists repeatedly pounded the ground and sobs escaped. Then the puking started.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but I was drained and exhausted. I lay on my back and stared at the stars. I hadn’t even realized how cold it was outside. Nothing mattered except Mom’s words that had shattered my world into tiny, unrecognizable pieces.
I blinked tears away again as I wrestled with the news. Why? Why her? I’d already been abandoned by one parent. How could I survive losing another? And what about Garrett? How could he go through his teenage years without a mom and a dad? I wiped my eyes as I stared into the darkness, and a chill began to seep through my jacket. I closed my eyes as the signs of her being sick flickered through my memories of the last few months: the weight loss, going to bed early, shaking hands, and bronchitis. All things that, by themselves, could have been nothing, but all together? Life changing.
My feet moved toward the hospital without me realizing it. My head pounded and my fingers were numb from the cold, but all I could think of was Mom connected to those machines.
What seemed like hours later, I walked through the elevator doors and back into Mom’s room. Aunt Linda and Garrett were nowhere to be seen. I glanced at the clock and flinched. It was almost six in the morning. I’d been gone all night.
I quietly moved a chair up to Mom’s bed, sat down, and waited for her to wake up.
* * *
“Hey, sleepyhead,” Mom said.
“Hey,” I said, rubbing my face with my hands.
“How are you doing?”
I frowned. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
A small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she reached for my hand. “I love you.”
My jaw clenched as I fought back the tears. “I love you too, Mom. I love you too.” I kissed the back of her hand.
“We should talk.”
I nodded.
“I need you to be strong in front of Garrett. This will be hardest on him. You’re of legal age and can support yourself, but he can’t. Give me your word that no matter how bad it gets—”
“I promise. I’m sorry I took off last night.”
A frown line creased her forehead. “It’s okay, you’re just processing.”
“But I can’t do that again. I need to step up. No more parties either. I’ll be home to take care of dinner every night, help Garrett with his homework, and be there with you.”
“Hon, I’m not asking you to do all those things. In fact, Aunt Linda will be buying the house and renovating the upstairs into an apartment. She’ll be there with us.”
“Really?” I asked, wiping away the tear that had sneaked down my cheek. I stared at the floor while I struggled with my emotions. “I can still help with all of that, though. This… this has put a lot of things into perspective, what’s important and what’s not, ya know?”
“I do.”
“How long?”
“They don’t know for sure, but maybe up to a year.”
My breath caught in my chest. A year if we were lucky.
“That’ll give me some time to figure out how to take care of Garrett once you’re…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. “When are you coming home?”
“They’re going to set me up with an oxygen tank and medication to ease the pain. I won’t be able to go back to work, so I’ll be at home.”
I nodded. “Are you in pain now?”
“Not much. They’re keeping me pretty well medicated.”
Exhaustion filled me as I stood. “I’ll get home and take Garrett to school so Aunt Linda can come back.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling.
I leaned down, kissed her forehead, and quietly left the room.
Chapter 9
For the first time in three years, I walked into high school without Brittany next to me. I’d skipped a full week after breaking up with her and Mom telling us that she was sick. I wondered if that news had traveled around as fast as the news of Britt’s abortion had. I hated high school. I hated my life. Fuck them all.
I steered through the students toward my locker. James rounded the corner as I spun the dial on my combination lock and opened it.
“Hey, man,” he said as he leaned against the adjoining lockers.
“Hey.”
“Lots of talk going on. Just thought you should know.”
“Fuck ‘em,” I said, grabbing my books and then slamming the door shut.
“Yeah. I thought I’d see if you need notes from any of our classes?”
“Shit. I hadn’t really thought about it, but that’d be great.”
I waited as James rustled through his backpack and pulled out some papers. I took them as Brandon and Nicole strolled by, and I glared at them. Brandon’s eye was almost healed. I swallowed the urge to grab him and pummel his face again. I ran my hand over my hair and stared at the floor. I had to get a grip. I couldn’t let all this shit turn me into a bad example for my brother. He needed me more than ever.
“You gonna fill me in? You’ve missed a week of school,” James said. “Nice haircut, by the way.”
“Thanks. I will, but I can’t right now.”
“Must be some heavy shit.”
“Come over around seven tonight. I need to concentrate on my classes right now. The last thing I need is to flunk out my senior year.”
My Hurricane (The Truth Series Book 0) Page 4