Chapter Forty-Two
Somewhere a child started to cry and Kelley opened his eyes to find Mason sitting next to his bed. He closed his eyes again as the raw pain tore through him as the accident played off in his mind again. Juliana was really dead. Tears wetted his lashes but he willed them away and shifted on the hospital bed.
“Did I sleep?”
Mason looked nervous, his hands clenched tightly on his lap. “About an hour. There’s something else I have to tell you.”
“What?” Kelley wasn't sure he wanted to know whatever Mason needed to tell him.
“The passenger in Petey’s car … it was your sister, Marley.”
Kelley sat up straight in an instant, ignoring the dizziness in his head. “Is she okay? Was she hurt?”
“Drunk off her head but she’s fine. She's worried about you, though.”
Kelley briefly closed his eyes and nodded his head. Mason raked a hand through his hair and leaned back in the plastic chair next to Kelley’s bed. He seemed content to wait for Kelley to be discharged and then Kelley remembered John's abrupt arrival at the hospital what felt like only minutes after he'd arrived by ambulance.
“Why was John already here?”
“Your lawyer? He was with my mom when I called her.”
Mason shook his head and Kelley smiled at his discomfort. Sadness replaced the discomfort in Mason’s eyes and Kelley knew what he was thinking. “Have you seen Jule’s mother? Is she talking to the police?”
“John’s been with her the whole time, they spoke to the cops, gave a statement and I saw your doctor take Petey’s blood. I heard them talking … they say he’s drunk and I heard someone say manslaughter.”
Kelley nodded his head. That was good. Petey couldn't get away with this. “It’s vehicular manslaughter, actually.”
Mason snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “His parents are here, so are yours and a pricey-looking lawyer is with them.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
The curtain moved again and Laura’s face appeared. Kelley sat up straighter in the bed and Mason stood up from the chair. Kelley couldn't help the disdain that filled him at the sight of her and he glanced at Mason, not really wanting him to leave. “I’ll give you a moment.”
“She won’t be here long, Mason. Ask that doctor if I can be discharged. His name's Drummond.”
Mason nodded his head and Laura stood to the side as he walked past her. She sat down in the plastic chair, not a hair out of place, and took Kelley’s hand which he withdrew from her touch. “How are you feeling? Your doctor said you got stitches on your head but that you’re fine otherwise.”
“Why are you here, Mom?”
“You’re my son, Kelley …”
Kelley scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest to make it more difficult for Laura to grasp his hand. “You’re obviously here for Petey since Marley’s fine.”
“I’m so sorry about your girlfriend, Kelley … but see this as a fresh start for you … with someone your own age.”
Kelley's anger now boiled to rage at her audacity. “Are you kidding me? Jule is dead and the woman you saw me with tonight … that’s Mason’s mom and actually she’s mine too.”
Laura gasped audibly and her eyes filled with pain. “Kelley! How can you say that?”
“Easy! She’s been more of a mother to me than you have!”
Resolve settled into Laura's eyes and Kelley gritted his teeth. “Everything I’ve ever done was to protect you.”
Kelley looked at his mother in disbelief. “You crawl on your hands and knees in front of Charles for me? Let’s not bullshit each other, Mom. I know a lot more than you think I know. You could’ve left him anytime you wanted to, you still can.”
Laura shook her head and lowered her gaze. “I can’t, Kelley, and for your sake, I hope you never find out why.”
“Why can’t you just tell me? Is he forcing you to stay with him?”
The curtain moved again and Charles Alexander pulled it closed behind him. “Keep your voices down! This is no place to discuss family drama.”
“I don’t care who hears.” Kelley’s voice was low now and filled with anger. The sight of Charles Alexander made the bile rise in his throat.
“You will not speak to me or your mother in that tone of voice. We raised you and gave you everything you ever wanted or needed. Show some respect.”
“Because you’re my father? You’re not my father, Charles, Kellan was my father so I suggest you turn around and leave before I really do raise my voice and say things you don’t want me to say.”
Charles’s eyes had widened at the mention of Kellan’s name and Laura had looked down immediately. “Who the hell told you that?” Anger emanated from Charles.
“John Campbell.”
Fury blazed in Charles's eyes but he masked it quickly. “Kelley, this really isn’t the time or place to discuss this. Come to the house tomorrow and we’ll talk like civilized people. For now, please just think about what you’re doing to Petey’s future.”
“It’s out of my hands, Charles. They took my blood to test for alcohol. Petey ran that red light and I know there are cameras on that stretch of the street. I don’t even have to say anything.”
“Don’t throw your friend under the bus.”
“He hasn’t been my friend since you threw me out of your house.” Kelley’s fists clenched tightly together and Charles only nodded his head.
Laura's hand snaked up his arm and Kelley turned to look at her. “Take care of yourself, Kelley, and please come to the house tomorrow.”
“I’ll think about it, Mom.”
Charles and Laura left the curtained-off area where Kelley had shifted to stand up and he sighed in relief. He couldn’t handle a talk with the two of them, not now, probably not even next week. Mason appeared again, this time with Carey who hugged him tightly.
“You’re being discharged.”
“Your car’s a total write-off, sorry, Kelley.” Mason did look sorry but it was just another one of those things. Kelley had lost even though he had played by the rules and did everything right.
