Chapter 4
“What are you doing here?” Brad’s voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.
Sally looked up. Brad, Nick, and Lena stood together, there for Lena’s checkup.
The three of them, tight–knit and comfortable, looked every bit like a family.
Lena’s eyes widened, her tone gentle but sharp. “Mrs. Zale, you don’t need to sulk.
“If you want to talk to Brad, you don’t have to track him down at the hospital. You just got out–people will start whispering…
Is Mom here waiting for us? Does she regret not coming home?‘ Nick thought to himself.
A tiny spark of hope flickered in Nick’s chest, but then he remembered her words and frowned.
Then Mock said, “Mom, you’re so fake. You can’t handle being without me and Dad, but you’ve got to make a big scene instead of just coming home.”
Brad smirked, his voice thick with mockery. “Thought you had some guts, refusing to come back to the Zales. Couldn’t even make it two days before you’re here pulling this act. Typical Sally.”
Before he could go on, the doctor cut in, “Sally, here’s your medication.”
He handed her a bag, then shot a look at Brad’s group, his face hardening with irritation. “Why’re you blocking the way? Let my patient get her meds.”
“You guys speak English?” Sally’s stare was ice–cold as she faced them. “I’m here for my prescription. You three might want to get your heads checked.”
Brad’s expression darkened, her jab stinging. He frowned.
He frowned, wondering, ‘Sick right after getting out… Is she…
Sally turned to leave, but Nick grabbed her sleeve, lips tight.
“My graduation’s in a couple days,” he said, “Even if you’re mad, you should be there. You’re still my… mom.”
The last word slipped out quiet, almost a whisper.
He glanced at Lena, nervous, like he was worried about upsetting her.
Sally didn’t even glance at him.
She peeled his hand off, her voice flat. “You’ve got the wrong mom. That’s not me.”
She started walking away.
Lena stopped her. “I know you’re ashamed about prison, Sally, and that’s why you won’t come back. But you can’t just dodge your job as a mom. You’ve ignored Nick for three years. Are you gonna keep blowing him off now?”
Her words carried, loud enough for others to hear.
Heads turned. Murmurs spread–prison, deadbeat mom.
But then a man in a police uniform approached Lena.
“Miss Yasmin, someone reported two lion statues stolen from their home. Those statues showed up at your place on a TV segment. Please come with us.”
The crowd gasped.
Brad’s brow creased.
He had no idea she was back at Windmere Estates.
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Lena’s face went red, shock turning to embarrassment.
Before she could argue, Sally coughed, her pale face hard as stone.
She looked at Nick. “He’s nine. He can choose whoever he wants as his mom. And I’ve got the right to say I’m not her.”
The law only required child support; it didn’t force her to love him.
Then she turned to Lena. “As for Miss Yasmin… those lion statues are mine. My so–called husband had no right to give them
away.
“If you can’t hand them back, you’ll find out what prison’s like soon enough.”
Brad grabbed her wrist, his grip tight.
For a split second, looking at her face, he hesitated.
Her wrist was so thin, her skin scorching hot.
She was burning up.
But he shook it off, his voice harsh. “Have you lost your mind? You’re calling the cops on Lena over three years in prison? I gave her those statues!”
“Yeah,” Nick chimed in, glaring. “Great–Grandpa and Lena told me to give you a chance, and that’s the only reason I’d want you as my mom. And now you’re doing this to Lena?”
Nick gritted his teeth. She wouldn’t even come to his graduation.
His anger flared, but a small unease tugged at him.
The old Sally would’ve done anything to make him happy, would’ve jumped at the chance to be at his ceremony.
She was like a stranger now.
Sally listened to their accusations, her heart numb, the ridiculousness almost funny.
To them, her three years of hell probably didn’t stack up to Lena’s stubbed toe.
Her fever muddled her thoughts, her body swaying, barely able to stand.
Sally yanked her hand free from Brad’s grip, meeting his eyes with a sudden, sharp smile. “You’ve got a real knack for being disgusting. If it’s so trivial, Mr. Zale, why don’t you try a stint in prison?
Her words cut deep, a far cry from the Sally of three years ago.
Brad stood frozen, caught off guard.
Sally left the hospital, wiping her hand where Brad had touched her.
One thought burned in her mind: ‘She needed that divorce, fast.
Every second tangled with Brad was pure torment.
Lena’s drama dragged on all night.
Sally, though, took her meds and crashed.
She woke groggy, her fever haze parting to reveal Abigail, fresh off a flight and looking worried.
“You just got out, and you’re burning up like this?” Abigail said, shaking her head. “I got here, and you were pushing a hundred and four. Lucky the fever’s down now.”
She handed Sally water and pills. “Anything you need, just say the word.”
Sally had no interest in spilling the details of prison’s toll on her.
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Abigail seemed unchanged after three years, which warmed a corner of Sally’s heart.
Her husband and son had let her down. Friends, though? They still had her back.
Sally swallowed the pills, her gaze dropping. “Draft me a divorce agreement. And help me find someone.”
