Grim Gone by Nicky Graves

Author:Nicky Graves
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pierced Heart Publishing

12

Vance let go of me and stepped back. Within seconds, I found myself wrapped in my mother’s arms as she sobbed.

“I thought you were dead,” she cried.

I felt like scum. No, worse than that. Like sewer sludge.

“Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you.” Accusation mixed with sobbing did nothing for my already guilty conscience.

“Mom, I’m sorry I worried you. I didn’t want to.”

She stepped away and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Then why did you? Do you know how many nights I didn’t sleep? I’ve been looking for you. The police have been looking for you.”

“Maybe you should go inside and talk,” Vance said.

“Who are you?” Mom asked, her attention turning to Vance.

Vance ran a nervous hand through his dark locks as he glanced at me for guidance. But I was just as clueless as he was. The only way out of this was to either completely lie or tell the truth. I didn’t think my mom could handle the truth.

“Let’s go inside,” I said before Vance could answer who he was. I was afraid he would head down the truth path. He wasn’t one to hold back.

Mom eyed Vance and then me. She took my hand and lead me to the house. I don’t think she had held my hand since I was five, but she was probably afraid I’d leave again. I didn’t blame her, but it felt odd being led home by my mom.

I thought Vance would strand me, but he followed us inside.

“Are you hungry?” Mom asked. “Thirsty?”

“No, we’re okay,” I said.

Mom led us to the living room. “Sit and explain to me what happened.”

I sat on the couch and was both annoyed and relieved that Vance sat next to me. Mom studied us for a moment before sitting in a chair opposite.

“Well?” she asked.

I opened my mouth and then shut it again. I didn’t even know where to begin or what to say.

“We eloped,” Vance said.

Mom and I both stared wide-eyed at him.

“You’re married?” she asked me.

“Well . . .”

“It was more of a claiming than marriage,” Vance said, which didn’t help the situation.

“Claiming?” Mom squeaked. “Is that some kind of cult ritual?

“No,” I said, quickly. “And we broke the claim. So, no harm done.”

“No harm done?” she said, rising from her chair. “No harm done! Do you know what I’ve been through? And you come waltzing back saying no harm done!”

Apparently, she hit the anger stage as she relayed exactly what she and David had been through.

She ended the fifteen-minute long tirade with, “Are you pregnant?”

“Do I look pregnant?” I asked, looking down at my stomach. I mean, I knew I was going through changes, but I thought it was more of the skeleton version, not puffing out.

“Don’t get sassy. He could have molested you,” she said, pointing at Vance.

“I’m not much of the molesting kind,” Vance said drolly. “But I have been known to bite.”

Mom’s face, which was already flushed with anger, turned a brighter shade of red.

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