Free Chased by a Stranger (Craved Series #3) by Hazel Kelly

desperately needed a holiday, too, but my
Mom knew better than to lust after things she couldn't have. 
     
    If only she'd
passed that trait on to me. 
     
    I glanced down
at my bandaged foot and pursed my lips, deciding I would spare her the details.
Besides, if I even mentioned my snorkeling accident, she would probably freak
out and demand a play by play- or worse- insist on discussing all of the
terrible things that could've happened but didn't for the next forty five
minutes.
     
    Plus, I wasn't
sure I'd be able to tell her about my injury without mentioning Jack, and he
was something I was even less willing to discuss than tropical diseases. 
     
    In fact, I'd
spent most of the plane ride home- along with our three hour layover in
Houston- wishing I'd just opened the fucking door to see what he had to say. And
it took all the energy I had not to admit my regret to Megan. So the last thing
I needed was to let something slip when I was talking to my Mom. 
     
    What I needed
was to change the subject. 
     
    "You
would've enjoyed it," I said.
     
    She laughed.
"Maybe. I did enjoy the last time I relaxed."
     
    "When was
that?"
     
    "The
fifth of July in 1992."
     
    I didn't even
want to know. "So how have you and Dad been?" I asked. "Any
exciting news?"
     
    "We went
to counseling a few times together."
     
    "And? How
did it go?"
     
    "Well, I
can only speak for myself."
     
    Oh here we go.
     
    "But I
was finding it really helpful."
     
    "Uh-huh."
     
    "And I
thought your Dad was actually making some good progress."
     
    "Good."
     
    "Until he
decided to have a few beers at the Carpenter's barbeque-"
     
    I swallowed.
     
    "And a
few more.”
     
    “Right.”
     
    “And I reminded
him that he wasn't supposed to drink with all the medication he's been on, but
you know what a good listener he is- especially when he's drinking-"
     
    I closed my
eyes for a second. 
     
    "And then
eventually, after who knows how much alcohol, he threw up all over himself in
his wheelchair in front of all the neighbors.”
     
    “Mom!” I put a
hand on my head and clenched my hair in my fist. “Why did you even let him
drink?! Didn't the doctor say he could die?!”
     
    “Audrey, I
didn’t let him do anything.”
     
    I shook my
head.
     
    “I can’t
babysit him every second if I want us to have a chance. He already treats me
like I’m some kind of wicked witch.”
     
    “I know. I
know. I’m so sorry, Mom.”
     
    “I’m not. He
obviously doesn’t care whether or not I respect him anymore, but maybe
embarrassing himself in front of his friends will have some sort of effect on
him.”
     
    “And has
it?” 
     
    “I don’t know,
honey." She sighed into the receiver. "But if he’s determined to kill
himself there’s nothing I can do about it.”
     
    “But-”
     
    “What would
you suggest I do?” 
     
    “I don’t
know.” I paced the narrow hallway. “Can we send him somewhere to get
professional help? Send him to rehab? It’s obviously too much for you and Uncle
Louis.”
     
    “Your uncle
left,” she said. “He wanted to spend time with the family he has that
appreciates his help and I don’t blame him.”
     
    “We’ll figure
something out,” I said. “Just keep taking him to counseling in the meantime-”
     
    “I intend
to," she said. "And I'm staying open to any suggestions people have
for me. I'm just not getting my hopes up that things are going to get better.
To be honest, I'd settle for them not getting any worse at this point."
     
    I nodded.
"I understand."
     
    "I'm
sorry, honey. I promised myself I wouldn't offload on you like this as soon as
you got home."
     
    "It's
okay."
     
    "No, it's
not."
     
    "Don't
worry about it, Mom. I'm the one that asked."
     
    "Still. You
probably just walked in the door."
     
    "It's
fine," I said. "Call me if you need anything."
     
    "I will, hun,
but don't worry about us," she said. "Worry about getting a
job."
     
    I let my head
fall back for a second.