4. A Family Affair
Faith
Fuck.My mother looked worse than usual, which was saying something. She’d smeared some concealer under her eyes, but it was so white it made her look like a clown.
A scary clown.
Boy, did I ever hate clowns.
“Hi, Mom.” I hustled over to her before she could continue snarling at me and cause more commotion. Cassius stayed by the desk, giving me space, for which I was grateful. A scene with my mother was always bad; having one unfold in front of Cassius would be humiliating beyond what I could bear.
“How’s Lucas?” I asked.
“Ha,” she chortled and then started coughing. “Like you give a shit. The lady said you haven’t been here for a week.”
“That’s not what I said,” the receptionist responded tersely. “I said that I haven’t been here for a week.”
“I know what I heard,” my mother hollered.“So mind your own goddamned business!”
The receptionist opened her mouth to object, but I cut her off. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly, hoping to evade a full-scale battle. “There’s just been a lot of stress lately. Mom, do you want to get a coffee?”
“Fine by me.” She looked at the receptionist and stuck her nose up in the air. “People need to respect the patient’s privacy, you know what I mean? You can’t train anybody these days.”
I took a deep breath because otherwise, I would scream. My mother was clueless about training; she hadn’t held a job in over ten years. Not to mention that nothing we were talking about had anything to do with Lucas, the actual patient. “Let’s just go get a coffee.”
My mother pulled herself up. She looked thinner than usual, her slender frame resembling one of the Menthol 100 cigarettes she religiously chain-smoked. Her beady, bloodshot eyes raked over me, missing nothing. “Where’d you get those fancy clothes, huh?”
“Let’s talk in the cafe, okay? Then I need to see Lucas.” I started down the hall, desperate to get away from everyone else, but my mother stayed rooted to the spot.
“Who’s this?” She jerked her thumb in Cassius’s direction. He stood still, looking ridiculously tall, handsome, and rich AF. I hadn’t noticed that he was wearing another gorgeous custom suit, his onyx cufflinks winking at his wrists. Fuck.
“That’s my driver,” I lied.
My mother looked incredulous. “Your driver?”
“Uber,” I explained, motioning for her to follow me. “Come on, the cafeteria closes soon.” This was yet another lie, but I couldn’t get her away from Cassius fast enough, not to mention the receptionist, who was shooting eye-daggers in our direction.
Cassius watched as I practically dragged my mother down the hall. He didn’t look amused. I didn’t blame him. My mother reeked of Menthols and also cheap vodka. My stomach roiled, but I put on my game face in order to keep the peace. I’d learned how to do that long ago—sometimes, I wondered whether the mask was my real face or vice versa.
“Why do you have a driver, and why’re you so dressed up, huh? And how’d you pay your brother’s bill?” My mother rapid-fired questions as she grabbed a large coffee cup, a candy bar, and a pack of gum. She placed it all at the register, waiting for me to pay.
Luckily, Cassius’s concierge had purchased a tote for me, complete with a wallet filled with cash. My mother eyed the bills with interest as I paid for her things.
“I have a driver because I’m working this summer as a nanny,” I explained. “The family paid for it. And that’s how I paid Lucas’s bill—with the money they gave me for the summer.”
She arched a pencil-thin eyebrow. “Why’d they pay you in advance?”
“It was a signing bonus.” I wasn’t sure how, when my mother had been piss-drunk for what felt like years, she still managed to interrogate me so thoroughly. “We’re so lucky they kept him here at the center. He’s doing much better.”
She jerked her chin at my wallet. “Can I have some of that cash? I’m short on rent.”
“Sure, Mom.” I wanted to tell her that just last week, Lucas and I were about to be homeless for the second time in as many months. I needed the money, but it wasn’t worth the fight. I took half the cash and handed it to her.
She just stared at me. “I gotta pay utilities, too.”
I just sold my virginity to pay for Lucas’s care. YOUR SON, LUCAS, WHO HAS A RARE FORM OF CANCER.
But she didn’t care about Lucas, and she sure as shit didn’t care about me.
I handed her the rest of the money without a word.
Her beady gaze flicked down me, taking in my jeweled sandals and expensive tote. “Some nanny job. I’m thinking there’s more cash where that came from.”
“Actually, Mom, there’s not.” I sighed. “I already spent all my earnings to keep Lucas here. He needs the medical care.”
“They said he was doing better.” She shrugged. “So maybe he’ll get out soon.”
I shook my head. “The treatment lasts a whole year. Then, they have to monitor him for at least six months afterward. There’s a long road ahead.”
“Maybe.” Her tone was argumentative, which I found maddening.
“Did you see him?” I asked.
“Nah, I didn’t want to confuse him.”
I blinked at her. “You’ve been here all morning, and you didn’t even go in to see him?”
“Don’t you use that tone with me,” she snapped. “You don’t understand a mother’s pain.”
I glared at her. If ever there was someone full of shit, it was my mother.
“You are going to go in and see him with me right now, or I’m taking that money back.” I rarely stood up to her, and I didn’t even want her around Lucas, but he would be crushed if he ever found out she was here and didn’t bother to see him.
She snorted. “What’re you gonna take it from me?”
“Don’t try me.” I put my hands on my hips.
“Oh, Miss High-and-Mighty wants to fight,” she cackled. “I gotta see this!”
“There you are,” a deep, smooth voice interrupted. Cassius appeared beside us, a bundle of tall, handsome, hulking disapproval.
“The doctor said that Lucas was ready to see you.” He eyed my mother coldly. “Both of you.”
“Whatever.” My mother hitched her cheap purse over her shoulder and grabbed her coffee. She looked pissed. She didn’t want to see my brother; she usually avoided it at all costs. But I could tell she was assessing Cassius and wasn’t sure what to make of him.
Her curiosity won out. She followed us down the hall to Lucas’s private room. I caught her inspecting Cassius, her heavily lined eyes narrowing in on his cufflinks and watch. For his part, the billionaire didn’t spare my mother any attention. But his strong presence was a comfort. For once, I felt like I had an ally against her.
We reached my brother’s room, and I straightened my shoulders. If I could do one thing, it would be to stay positive in front of him. I didn’t want to fight with Mom and just make everything worse.
“Hey, Lucas!” As we entered the hospital room, I placed a full-wattage smile on my face. It was a cheerful space filled with colorful prints and lots of sunlight. My brother’s hospital bed was covered with a multicolored quilt made by the staff, and his stuffed dog, Chipper, was tucked next to him.
Lucas’s grin split his face when he saw us, making everything worth it. “Hey! I didn’t know you were coming today.”
He turned to my mother, clearly shocked. “Hi, Mom!” God bless my brother. His smile was genuine. He was always one to forgive and forget when it came to my mother. He loved her no matter what she did—or, more importantly, didn’t—do. His hopefulness in her presence always squeezed my throat, making it hard to catch my breath.
“How’s my baby?” Mom hugged him, her reedy arms surrounding his frail frame. “You’re looking good, kiddo. You’re probably going to get out of here soon.”
“Really?” Lucas’s eyes got huge in his face. “Can I come home?”
“Oh…” My mother looked around helplessly—she hadn’t anticipated his question even though she should’ve known better. “I don’t know. It’s up to the doctors.”
“Okay,” Lucas said eagerly. “But when I get discharged, then can I come home? Faith and I were couch-surfing at her friend’s apartment, it was totally gross?—”
“You know what, hon? I forgot I have to run to an appointment.” Mom bent over and gave Lucas a hasty kiss on the head. “I’ll see you soon!”
She fled, her cigarette-like frame disappearing into the hallway before you could say Mommy Dearest. My heart broke for my brother, just like it did every time I saw him try to reach out to our mom.
Lucas’s brow furrowed, but he quickly smoothed his features. Like me, he was an expert at hiding his disappointment. He turned back to us, eyeing Cassius. “Who’re you?”
Cassius cleared his throat. “Cassius Blackwood. It’s nice to see you.” He held out his hand, and my brother took it.
“I’m Lucas Kensington,” my brother said, mock-serious. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
That made Cassius smile.
“Cassius drove me here from Rhode Island,” I explained.
“Are you her boss?” Lucas asked.
“Today, I’m her driver.” The billionaire smiled again. “I’ll give you and your sister a few minutes alone. Can I get you something from the cafeteria, Lucas?”
My brother’s eyes lit up. “I’d love a Milky Way. Just don’t tell my nurse—I already had jelly beans.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word,” Cassius said with a smirk and left us.
“He’s nice,” Lucas said. “I like him.”
I blinked at my brother, surprised. It was unlike him to pronounce something like that. He could forgive my mother anything, but when it came to my friends, he was protective and innately suspicious. “You do?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Dude’s buying me candy, and he’s wearing a suit. He’s cool. I bet he has a nice car.”
“He does.” I felt my cheeks heat and hoped he didn’t notice.
“I can’t believe Mom was here,” Lucas said, sounding wistful. “She didn’t last long, though.”
I shook my head. “You know she hates hospitals.”
He scowled. “She never comes to visit. Never. What the heck is she so busy doing? Besides drinking and smoking, I mean.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Drinking and smoking are a full-time job.”
He laughed. “True.”
“How’s the Play Station?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
Lucas’s face lit up. “It’s awesome! Want to watch me play a battle Royale game? I’ve got the highest score. I’m ranked number one!”
He prattled on happily about his video game status, and I sank onto the bed beside him. I was relieved to be reunited with my brother and happy to see he looked like he’d gained some strength back. Some staff came in, and I chatted with them; they told me he was doing much better.
Eventually, the doctor came in. She pulled me out into the hall while one of the nurses changed Lucas’s IV.
“Lucas is one of our program’s success stories,” she said proudly. “He’s stabilized. I’m very pleased with how he’s responding to the treatment. All his tests have come back with marked improvements.”
My heart lifted. “That’s wonderful,” I said.
“It is, truly,” she agreed. “He’ll still need a full year of the therapy, as we expected. After that, he’ll need a mixture of in-patient and outpatient recovery services. That could take up to another year—or even longer.”
The doctor frowned. “We still haven’t received any funding, Ms. Kensington. That means that all of this remains private pay. I understand what a hardship that is on the families. I wish it could be different.”
I nodded. I knew how much the treatment cost—a small fortune. “It’s worth it.”
“Lucas is the best,” the doctor said. “I consider it an honor to be taking care of him.”
“Thank you,” I said, meaning it with every bone in my body.
The nurse finished with the IV, and we returned to the room. “Bye, Lucas,” the doctor called. “I’m going to make rounds. Great to see you!”
The doctor beamed at my brother. My brother beamed back. They high-fived each other, and my heart leaped.
At that moment, the weight of the truth hit me again. For my brother’s success story to have a happy ending, I would have to pay for the entire course of treatment. Otherwise, I could never live with myself.
I didn’t want to return to Rhode Island and resume my duties now that Cassius Blackwood and I were through.
But if I wanted to save my brother, there was no way around it.
I must return to Club 444.