Chance Harbor by Holly Robinson

Author:Holly Robinson [Robinson, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-09-17T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“What’s going on? Why is Mom on the floor? Mom, are you okay?” Zoe demanded, shouldering past Catherine and going straight to their mother, where she squatted down and took her hand.

“She fainted and fell before I could catch her. The ambulance is on its way.” Catherine stared in disbelief at this new version of her sister.

Zoe had shed the black dreadlocks, sunglasses, and shawl. A stranger observing this scene would not see a gonzo woman pretending to be blind and homeless, but a pretty, slender woman with cropped blond curls, a curvy back end in snug jeans riding low on her hips, and an expensive-looking, stylish black leather jacket. To top it off, Zoe wore a black-and-white scarf with tassels. It was the sort of cotton scarf that hippie backpackers might wear to advertise the fact that they’d traveled through Asia on a shoestring.

Catherine had been angry at her sister many times in her life, for more reasons than she could list in a single breath. Still, even compared to all that, the anger bubbling up in Catherine now was lava-hot and threatening to spill out of her body. She could imagine spewing enough anger to burn everything in this room to a crisp. Especially her sister, the hot sun around which their family had always revolved.

Meanwhile, her deranged sister was making clucking and cooing noises over their mother. As if she knew one thing about falls or concussions. Zoe was even stroking their mother’s hand like she actually cared, after nearly killing her with grief.

“I’m all right now,” Eve was saying, but she didn’t look it. The lines in her face were deep and her limbs looked brittle. Catherine didn’t usually think of her mother as old. Tonight, though, she could see where Eve was headed. “I fainted and fell. But I’m perfectly all right. Just feeling silly.” Eve stirred on the floor, as if to stand. Zoe and Willow both put their arms around her to help her up.

“Leave her there!” Catherine shouted, her voice echoing in the hallway. “Mom definitely has a concussion. She blacked out!”

“Please, Catherine. Let’s not be dramatic,” Eve said.

“Me? I’m a nurse practitioner! You’re telling me to curb the drama?” Catherine sputtered.

Everyone ignored her. Eve had taken both of Zoe’s hands in hers, saying, “My God. I can’t believe you’re here! Where have you been? Let me look at you. Are you really all right?”

“It’s a long story. But yes, I’m fine,” Zoe said, talking so fast that the words bounced noisily on the hardwood floor and echoed off the walls. She must have rehearsed this speech. “I’m clean. Healthier than I’ve ever been. I’m sorry I caused you so much pain and worry, Mom. Not only when I left, but for all those times before. Really I am. And I’m sorry about Dad, too. Believe me, I would have stayed here if I thought I could survive.”

By now Catherine could hear the shriek of an approaching ambulance. “They’re almost here,” she said needlessly.

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