Four Hundred Guests Watched Him Cheat, So I Took Everything He Had novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: Conditions
On Saturday morning I set all four pill bottles in a row on Hoyt's kitchen table and called my mother to sit.
Ellen sat.
She wore Hoyt's gray sweater with the sleeves rolled, and she looked ten years younger than she had a week ago.
"The pharmacist called at seven," I said. "She tested the little white pill. It's ten milligrams. It's twice what the chart says."
"I know."
"She says no one should be awake after that much of it, let alone arguing about proxies."
"I know, baby."
"Stop saying you know." My voice came out harder than I meant it to. "You knew everything, and you let me find out in front of four hundred people."
"Yes."
"I stood on that riser thinking you were dying."
"I know exactly what I did to you," my mother said. "I'm not going to ask you to call it all right."
"Good."
I took a breath.
I had practiced the next part in the shower, and it still came out unsteady.
"I'll forgive you," I said. "On conditions."
She folded her hands on the table.
"First. You never keep a plan from me again. Not a good one, not a kind one, not one you think will save me. If it's about my life, I hear it before it happens."
"Agreed."
"Second. You stand up at Harlan's dinner on your own feet. You say what he did to you, to his face, in front of his board."
"I'd have asked to."
"Third. I pick the dress."
Her mouth twitched.
"Which dress?"
"The one you sold your ring for."
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