Читать книгу True Confessions - Electa Rome Parks - Страница 12

“Hello…Kennedy is not available to come to the phone right now. She’s sleeping…No, I will not wake her up. I don’t care who this is…What? Drake, why don’t you leave my daughter alone? It’s obvious you aren’t good for her. You don’t care about my daughter and you never have…Well, Kennedy will always be my little girl…I’ve already told you. Good-bye, Drake. Don’t call here again.”

I didn’t even realize another day had shown its face until I awoke to Mother screaming. Well, not exactly screaming, but speaking in an extremely high, agitated voice to someone on the phone. When I realized it was Drake, I became fully alert and awake as my heart did a tap dance and pitter-patter before flip-flopping a couple of times.

I wanted to speak with him, but then on the other hand, I feared what he’d say to me and how I’d react. Being with Drake had always been a contradiction to my emotions. He took me, like no other, to extreme highs or devastating lows.

“Mother. Please come here,” I screamed loud enough for her to hear me in the living room.

“Yes, baby?” she asked, slowly walking back into my room with a puzzled, worried expression on her face.

“Who was that on the phone? I heard you talking to someone.”

“Oh, no one baby. It was a wrong number.”

We stared at each other, eyeball to eyeball, for a few seconds. Both of us recognized the lie in her words and gestures. The untruth clung to the air like stale cigar smoke.

“Oh, I see. Why don’t you put the phone back in my room today? I’m feeling much stronger.”

“No, you don’t need that annoyance. I can answer your calls for a few more days. You need to rest.”

“Mother, it’s not like my friends are blowing up my phone line.”

“Well, for now, let me answer it. Let your mother do for you. Honestly, I don’t mind,” she stated, smoothing the comforter on my bed with her hand.

“Okay, if it’ll make you feel better,” I stated reluctantly.

“It will. Oh, before I forget, Taylor called you last night.”

“Did she? Where was I?”

“Knocked out. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. You were sleeping so peacefully after dinner.”

“I guess I was more tired than I realized.”

“Your doctor said it would be a few days until your strength returned.”

“Was there a message?”

“No, she said she’d try back later.”

“Okay.”

“Anyway, I was just going to wake you, so I’m glad you’re up. Perfect timing. I’ve run you a nice, hot bath with your favorite bubble bath. After your bath, I’ll have your breakfast ready and I thought maybe we could eat in the dining room.”

“I’d rather eat in here.”

“No. You need to get up and about. It’ll do your soul good, Kennedy.”

“Mother, I don’t feel—”

She held up her hand. “Kennedy, I don’t want to discuss it any further. Now, let me go and prepare our breakfast. I’d like for you to get up. Now.”

“Sure. All right,” I stated in resignation. “Mother, thanks for running my bath water.”

“You’re welcome, baby,” she said, turning to leave.

“Mother?”

“Yes, honey?”

“If Drake calls, I would like to speak with him.”

Mother started to protest, but I stopped her this time before she could continue.

“Mother, I want to speak with him.” I didn’t dare mention how I needed to speak with him. “Okay?”

She didn’t answer, just continued to walk out with a stiff back.

“Mother?” I called out again.

She paused in mid-stride, but didn’t turn around. I barely heard her next words.

“Kennedy, I heard you the first time.”