Chapter 6 Mazzie
Mazzie
I ran through the emergency room double doors, only to be stopped by a security guard. Like at an airport, patients and guests had to have their bags cleared before they could go any farther.
I dumped my bag on the conveyor belt and went through the scanner.
The young security guard checked inside my bag. “ID, please,” he said, handing me my purse. “Who are you here to see?”
I gave him my driver’s license that I had taken out of my wallet before Bailey dropped me at the ER entrance. “Amy and Kaylee Meyers. My mom and sister were brought in from a car accident.”
While I waited for him to check their names, I rubbed my hands then picked at a nail, sweeping my gaze around the waiting room.
“Go through the doors on the far side.” He pointed behind me. “Make a right, and you’ll see another set of doors. They’re in room four.”
I held on to the strap of my cross-body bag and fast walked, following his directions.
Keep your cool, Mazzie. Don’t lay into your mother and make a scene.
I couldn’t promise that voice in my head anything. The anger and anxiety coursing through me was about to detonate.
As I entered the hub of the emergency area, I was met with beeping sounds humming, a nurse and doctor running down a hall, and two paramedics wheeling a bloody patient to a room.
For the briefest of moments, excitement stirred at the notion that one day I would be a doctor tending to patients in the ER.
My goal was emergency medicine, but that road might be a dead end, depending on the circumstances before me.
I blew into room four like an unexpected tornado, and before I could get my bearings, Kaylee threw herself at me.
“Maze,” my sister cried.
“You must be Mazzie Meyers,” an imposing cop by the name of Officer Morrical said, tucking his small notebook in the chest pocket of his uniform as he stood at the bottom of the bed.
“That’s my daughter, Officer.” My mom, who didn’t look beat up, bloodied, or bruised, gave me one of her “I’m sorry” looks.
I pursed my lips at her before I examined my sister. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes were red, but she had no cuts or bruises.
I pushed her long brown hair from her face.
She was the spitting image of our mother with her big brown eyes, button nose, and high cheekbones.
The only attribute I had gotten from my mother was heart-shaped lips.
I resembled my dad—black hair, green or blue eyes, depending on what I was wearing, and height.
I wasn’t six feet like him but stood at five feet eight.
“Is my mom being charged?” I asked Officer Morrical.
“I wasn’t drunk.” Mom’s tone bordered on panic.
“That’s not what the breathalyzer indicated,” Officer Morrical confirmed. “We’ll see what the blood tests come back with. Not to mention, you had a minor in the car. That right there constitutes child endangerment.”
The room blurred. “Is CPS going to take my sister?”
My mind was mapping out a plan—find a second job, maybe quit school to work full-time.
I wanted to strangle my mother. But this was partly my fault.
I’d left my phone in Lucas’s living room while we screwed each other’s brains out.
A scream tore through my head. One freaking night off from my problems, and my world blows to hell.
I should’ve been available for Kaylee. Tears were burning my eyes, but I couldn’t break down in front of my sister. She needed me to be strong.
“Officer, please don’t arrest me,” my mom pleaded.
Officer Morrical regarded my mom with a soft expression. “Ma’am, the last thing I want to do is that. But the law dictates what happens next.”
Kaylee hugged me tightly. “Don’t let them take me.”
My heart broke in two. But I would die before I let that happen. Bailey’s offer to stay with her parents was looking better and better.
“No, they’re not,” my mother cried.
“By law, I’m obligated to bring CPS into the fold.” Officer Morrical’s statement felt like a bomb exploding in my head, despite knowing that already.
“I’m Kaylee’s guardian.” My voice broke.
“On paper, ma’am?” he asked me.
Don’t cry, Mazzie. Keep it together.
I shook my head. “No.”
“What about your father? Is he in the picture?” Officer Morrical asked.
“No father,” I said, staring at my mother. “Unless you know where Kaylee’s dad is?” Or who he is? I didn’t want to add that question. As much as my mom was a disaster and as furious as I was with her, I didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire.
“I need to step out for a few minutes while we wait for the results of the blood test,” Officer Morrical said. “I’ll return shortly.”
“Kaylee, wait here. I need to talk to the cop,” I said, following Officer Morrical into the hall. “Sir, you’re going to arrest my mom, aren’t you?”
His kind blue eyes were a clear sign that he didn’t want to take my mother to jail. “Ms. Meyers, my hands are tied.”
I hated that I had no control over this situation. “Do you have to call CPS? I can’t lose my sister.”
He scratched his jaw. “It will take a few days for me to file my report, which will highlight that Kaylee has family to stay with. Then several more days before CPS gets wind. Then someone will be assigned to Kaylee’s case, and in turn, they’ll talk to me before they do their investigation.
In the meantime, do whatever you can to show Kaylee is well taken care of. ”
A little of my panicked state waned. “I have a family friend who is willing to take Kaylee in, and I’ll be with my sister. My friend’s parents are well-known in Lakemont. Will that help?”
“I can’t say for sure, Ms. Meyers. But that might help. CPS wants to see a stable home environment. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He smiled weakly then strode toward the nurses’ station.
I stomped into my mom’s room. “Kaylee, have you eaten? I want to talk to Mom for a minute.” I pulled out five ones from my wallet. “I saw a vending machine down the hall.”
She took the bills, hesitating to leave.
“It’s okay.” I smoothed my hands down her arms then pulled down her favorite Taylor Swift T-shirt. “We’re fine. You’re not going anywhere. I promise.”
That was a tall order, but I needed her to believe me. She was too young to worry about foster care, drunk moms, and jail time.
She hugged me. “I know you won’t let them take me.”
I prayed I could stop CPS or the train wreck that was about to happen.
I took a deep breath, tempering my anger as I padded over to the bed. “What the hell, Mom? You know that you’re in a world of trouble.” I kept my voice as low as possible.
Her bloodshot eyes filled with tears as she adjusted her striped T-shirt. “I promise, Mazzie, I hardly drank anything last night. I hit that car because Kaylee and I were arguing. I looked away for a split second.”
I rubbed my neck as guilt rode me hard. “How much did you drink? You failed the breathalyzer.”
She cried. “I’m sorry.”
“What about my car?” I needed transportation.
“The cops were having it towed somewhere. I think you can still use it.”
They’d probably taken it to the impound lot, which meant I had to pay to get my car back.
She grabbed my arm. “Mazzie, I can’t go to jail.”
I had so many comebacks on the tip of my tongue, like she should’ve thought about that before she downed a bottle of wine. But no matter how many times I’d scolded her for drinking too much, it had fallen on deaf ears.
“Mom, I have no control here. But before Kaylee comes back, what was the big family discussion you needed to have?” I had a feeling she drowned herself in alcohol because of whatever reason she had for calling a family meeting.
My first thought was she was dying or had the big C word.
Fear as bright as a neon sign flashed before me.
My mom had a long list of flaws that made me want to pull my hair out, but I didn’t want her to die.
She shuddered. “I ran into Kaylee’s dad at the drugstore. He was in town to see his ailing father.”
I faltered where I stood, shock vibrating through me. “You said you didn’t know who he was.”
“In part that’s true. I only knew his first name when we slept together. After I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t find him. Then life got in the way. I had you girls to support.”
“Did you tell him about Kaylee?” I asked.
“I did. His name is Nick Grafton, and he wants a DNA test done. I don’t blame him either.” She continued to shed tears. “Anyway, he’s in the military and had to deploy overseas. He should be back for the holidays.”
I was stoked that we were uncovering who Kaylee’s father could be, but until the DNA results were in, I didn’t want to get Kaylee’s hopes up or even mine.
“I’m sorry for being a poor mother, Mazzie,” she cried. “I really am. I want to do better.”
I squeezed her hand. “I believe you, Mom. But you need to shape up. You have two daughters who need you. And I’m tired of trying to be a parent to you and Kaylee.”
Her body shook as she sobbed. “I know, honey. I’ve leaned on you too much. You shouldn’t have to carry that.” She took a shaky breath. “I’m scared. I really am.”
I was too. Of what came next. Of losing Kaylee. Of failing her. And no one, not even Lucas, could save me from that.