Fallen Prey (Parallel Prey Duet Book 2) by Jen Stevens

Author:Jen Stevens [Stevens, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 36

Bash

Dinner at my parents’ is as boring as usual this week. The tension radiating between me and Sienna over Stardust makes it even more insufferable.

She pointedly ignored me for the first half, and then switched her approach entirely when our mother began talking about the Crystal Cottage, and she decided that glaring at me would be more effective to ensure I know how pissed she is.

As if she has a reason to be pissed at all.

We've survived the main course, and I'm preparing my excuse to leave before dessert, when my father leans back in his chair and throws his napkin onto the table. My mother tenses across from me before she drops her chin into her chest.

“I've got some news to tell you,” my father begins.

The wrinkles lining his face deepen with his frown, and I realize that, for the first time in my life, he's struggling to speak.

“What is it?” Sienna pushes impatiently. I cut my eyes over to her in warning, but she doesn't look in my direction to see it.

“We've been trying to figure out how to tell you, but to be completely honest, there's no good way to do it.”

He pauses again, his lips pressed together in a firm line. My mother finally raises her eyes, a stoney expression crossing her usually happy face.

“Your father has been diagnosed with brain cancer,” she utters, her tone cold and detached.

Sienna gasps.

My brain short-circuits.

“They can't be certain how much time he has, but it's not long.”

“No.” Sienna shakes her head. “They've got so much new technology for this sort of thing. We'll get a second opinion. We'll find something.”

“The cancer is too aggressive. It's already spread too far.”

“I'm sure there's something you can do for more time…” Sienna continues to argue, but my mother shakes her head, and the words die off.

He doesn't get more time. They're only telling us because they have no other choice.

“We've looked into everything,” she tells her, sounding grave.

“How long have you known?” The question is directed at our father now, the accusation clear. She wants to know how long they've kept it from us as we sat here, week after week like nothing was wrong.

“Three months.”

“What?!” Sienna shrieks at the same time I ask, “Was this after I got out of the hospital?”

Ignoring Sienna's reddening face, my mother turns to me and calmly answers, “We got the test results the day you were discharged.”

“This is bullshit. How could you guys sit here through these dinners for months and not say a word? What if we could have helped?” Sienna is visibly upset. She wears her emotions on her sleeve, in plain sight for everyone else to see. And right now, she’s pissed.

And hurt.

And devastated.

All the feelings I’m experiencing, yet I’m incapable of mustering anything more than a frown.

“You can't help, Sienna. No one can,” my father grumbles.

“Then, why wouldn't you at least want us to know so we could prioritize our time with you?”

“I didn't want you coming around out of pity.

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