The Phoenix's Rebirth for Revenge novel · Chapter 15 of 32
Chapter 15: Mother's Tears
I set the paper cup of tea on the windowsill.
My hands were steady.
That surprised me.
"Let go of her," I said.
My mother didn't.
She stroked the back of Gran's hand with her thumb, over the bruise from the IV.
"I came as soon as they'd let me up," she said. "Your father's parking the car. He couldn't bear to come straight up."
"Let go of her hand, and get out of this room."
Gran stirred.
Her eyes opened, slow, and found my mother's face a foot from hers.
For a second she looked at Lenora.
"Out," Gran said.
It came out a croak, but it was clear.
My mother laid Gran's hand on the blanket very gently and stood.
I held the door for her.
The corridor of the cardiac floor was bright after the dark room.
Two nurses were at the desk, and the charge nurse was writing on the whiteboard.
A man in a wheelchair was waiting for the elevator with his wife.
Everyone could hear me.
I didn't lower my voice.
"You brought that soup," I said. "You put her bowl at her chair before we ever sat down."
My mother pressed her fingers to her mouth.
"Coralie."
"The police are coming to talk to whoever cooked her food. I'm going to tell them it was you."
The charge nurse stopped writing.
My mother's eyes filled.
She didn't argue.
She didn't raise her voice.
She just stood there in her cream coat in the middle of the corridor and wept, small and quiet and ruined, until the woman by the wheelchair looked at me like I'd hit her.
One of the nurses came out from behind the desk with a box of tissues.
My mother took one and thanked her.
"I'm sorry," she said to the nurse, shaky. "My daughter's had a terrible day. We all have."
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