Chapter 75 Ivy
IVY
“I’ll meet you at your house later,” I tell him as he keeps a hold on me. Eventually, he lets my hand go as I get out of the car.
He does the same as he stays against the driver’s door. “You promised me.”
Going back to him, I give him a quick kiss. “And I’m keeping the promise.”
I’m inside my house long enough to grab my key fob then head to Uncle Shawn’s place. After being at the hospital, I can’t stop thinking about my mom. I just need to speak with my grandma and see if I can make sense of what she said.
Aunt Kathleen meets me at the door, her smile warm as she pulls me into a snug embrace. “Such a treat! Your uncle will be envious that I got another visit while he’s away on business.”
I’m purposely here because I know he isn’t.
But I don’t want to say that, so I smile and follow her to the kitchen.
She pours us both a glass of lemonade. While I sip my beverage and listen to her, my thoughts are on how I’m going to slip away without her seeing.
The last time I stopped by they were still adamant on me not being around Grandma.
“Ivy, is there something wrong?”
“My friend’s mom is in the hospital. It just brought up some things about Mom,” I admit truthfully.
She places her hand over mine. “I understand. Your uncle left some photo albums and a few home movies for you. He finally found what he was searching for. Maybe it’ll help you feel closer to your mom.”
I hope so, because I’ve never felt so distant from her as I do now.
As soon as my aunt exits the kitchen, I’m on my feet and heading through the house.
Once I reach Grandma’s room, I find her sitting in a chair facing the window.
She notices me, glancing my way for a few seconds before staring back out the window.
At least she’s not screaming at me this time. Maybe she really did need her medication adjusted and the episode she had last time was a fluke, right? She doesn’t blame me for killing Mom too. Does she?
“Hey, Grandma.”
“Don’t call me that. I’m not your grandmother,” she states flatly.
“I’m sorry.” I move closer and drop on the edge of her bed. “I blame myself too.”
Grandma gapes at me. “She’s not your mother. She was my daughter, and you and that bastard took her from me.”
I’m not sure what to do. Her distain for me is clear. When I don’t move, she starts shrieking, “Get out. You’re not hers.”
“Ivy”—Aunt Kathleen runs into the room—“you can’t be in here.”
Grandma yells at my aunt, “Take her back. Give her back.”
“What the hell is she talking about? Please tell me,” I beg Aunt Kathleen.
“She’s out of it. Her medica—”
I pull out of her arms, my shouts mixing with Grandma’s as I yell, “Stop lying to me.”
Aunt Kathleen gawks at me like I’m a monster, like she doesn’t recognize me as she says, “She is sick, Ivy. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.
When your uncle gets back, you can speak with him about this.
But you can’t go by anything she’s claiming.
The accident made her decline faster and she’s seizing nonexistent reasons to rationalize what happened to your mother. ”
So, I did hurt her too. “I just want to know the truth.”
Guiding me out of the room, Aunt Kathleen cries as she tries to speak, “She lost her baby. It would drive anyone insane. Don’t blame yourself. Your mother loved you more than anything else on this planet. Don’t forget that. Ever.”
I know Mom loved me. I just don’t believe the rest. Why would Grandma come up with such a random thing?
“Okay,” I say but I can’t shake the feeling even as I drive home.
Going straight to my father’s office, I dig through the cabinets and drawers. “Can I help you find something, Ms. Walker?”
“Yes, Anthony. Do you know where the paperwork is where I was registered at Belgrave?” There was a copy of my immunization records and birth certificate. And I need to see it with my own eyes.
“Yes, miss. It’s right over here.” He retrieves a folder and passes it to me.
I take the documents out and scan over my birth certificate. Under birth mother is my mother’s name. Why even seeing with it my own eyes, I can’t believe it?
Anthony lingers nearby as he hesitantly inquiries, “Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Are you certain?” Anthony asks.
“Yes, it’s just been a long day.” Like really long. “Is my father home?”
“He was in the media room the last time I saw him.”
“Thanks.” I make my way there, figuring what I’ll find. Sure enough, he’s passed out, sleeping in the clothes he more than likely has been wearing for days.
“Dad,” I repeat a few times before he finally wakes up.
“What is it?”
I don’t even know how to say it so I just do. “Grandma said mom wasn’t my mother.”
He watches me before he yawns and stretches. “What else did the crazy battle-ax tell you?”
“Nothing, but is she telling the truth?”
He spots the birth certificate in my hand. “Of course she was your mother. Why are you questioning that? She’s gone.” Dad resumes his reclined position and seems to drift back off to sleep.
I leave the room with the words of my grandmother ringing in my mind. Studying over the conversation, I debate whether it’s her that’s crazy or everyone else who’s lying.
There’s one way to find out. I need to request an original birth certificate and get my hands on it directly from the state.
After requesting the document and paying the fee, I’m waiting anxiously. When the clerk hands me the paper, I can’t help but immediately read over it.
I almost cry when I see my mother’s name.
Maybe I am losing my mind. Because I wanted it to say something else almost if only to prove that I’m not crazy.
Or that I’m not delusional when I believe everyone around me is deceitful.
Why would Grandma come up with such a story?
But the evidence is right in front of me.
Proof. Maybe I wanted it to not be her, so I don’t have to discern that I killed the woman who gave birth to me.
But I want her to be my mother. None of my thoughts are making sense.
Even as I walk back to the car, I feel out of sorts.
A message chimes on my phone. The one I’ve dreaded more and more with each passing day.
Truth if you dare. Meet at the old Belgrave Academy at midnight—Or beg for Mercy.
I watch as the communication fades. It’s almost over.
But after the last one, I don’t want to think about what is planned.
What if someone else dies? Brooke is distracted and worried about her mom.
I’m lost in my own head. Luca and Micah are determined to defeat the other no matter the cost, and it’s down to the four of us. I don’t want to see what’s ahead.