Lola shrugged, though the hole in her chest was widening with each passing minute. “Yeah. I keep hearing that from people.”
After a pause, her aunt said, “I spoke with the doctor. Anytime now the papers should be signed. I brought some things for you. They’re in my car. I’ll be right back.”
Alone, Lola let out a shuddering breath and forced herself to get up. She stood on legs that wobbled, trying to get her bearings. She couldn’t even cry, which was actually a relief. Lola was so sick of tears.
Her mother had abandoned her.
Lola’s chest hurt as she sucked in another lungful of air. She looked around the sparse, sanitized room, not really seeing it. What now? She didn’t want to think about it.
She went into the small bathroom and showered and brushed her teeth. That done, she sat on the bed in a hospital gown and robe and waited for her aunt.
Images of the night before stabbed her mind in horrifying flashes. Lola saw Bob’s twisted face, felt his perspiring skin. Lola inhaled and exhaled, trying to slow it down. She felt like she was going to be sick.
Blair returned, holding a familiar-looking duffel bad. “Your mother packed some things for you. Whatever else you need I’ll buy for you.”
“What…about me? Doesn’t she want to see me?”
“I’m sorry, Lola.”
The chasm in her chest widened.
Lola silently took the bag and went into the bathroom. She changed into red pajama pants and a pink long-sleeved shirt. Lola stared at herself in the mirror.
Her cheeks were hollowed out, dark smudges under her eyes; bruises turning yellow on her cheek and jaw and throat. She raised her face and eyed the black stitches on her chin, which just completed the freak show that was presently her face.
Her mother didn’t want to see her.
Blair was waiting for her when she left the bathroom. Her aunt put her arm around her as they left the hospital room, offering wordless support. It was a kind gesture.
12
Blair’s car was a white Chevrolet Cavalier that was spotless and smelled like mint. The ride was quiet, low music playing from the radio. Her aunt apparently liked country music. She hummed along to the song.
Her house was on the other side of town from Lola’s. It was a two-story red house with white trim. It made Lola think of candy canes and Christmas. There was a porch with white wicker chairs. Purple and pink flowers bloomed around the house.
A large tree stood in the yard, tall and proud. Lola instantly fell in love with the house and the yard. It was well-kept and homey. It was a house Lola would have liked to live in. She paused at that. She would be living there. At least temporarily.
It felt like a betrayal to her mother to look forward to calling such a place home; to be glad to be away from hers. Lola felt such relief knowing she didn’t have to go back there. Again she felt bad.
Bitterness slammed away the guilt. None of this would be happening if not for Bob; none of this would be happening if her mother had been stronger, if Lola had meant more to her mother than some ridiculous excuse for a man.
“Lola? Coming?”
Lola shook her head and followed her aunt up the porch steps and through the door.
The entryway was open and spacious and smelled like vanilla. To the left was the kitchen and to the right the living room. The walls were creamy white and filled with framed photographs of scenery and people, some animals.
Lola walked over to one, touched in some inexplicable way by the black and white photo of a curly-haired girl with a serious expression on her face, her striking blue eyes the only color in the picture.
“Like it?”
Lola jumped at the sound of Blair’s voice, so close to her. She nodded, backed away.
“I’m a freelance photographer in my spare time.”
She glanced at her aunt, impressed. Lola tried to remember hobbies of her mother’s; talents she once used faded away over time like her smile. Disturbingly, she couldn’t think of any.
“Come on. I’ll show you your room and introduce you to Piper and Larry.” Blair touched her arm and gestured toward the living room.
The living room was large and again had creamy white walls. There was a bay window that looked out onto the street. It was lovely. Lola could see herself sitting in the bay window, her writing on her lap.
The furniture was navy blue, the curtains blue and tan striped. A Bose entertainment system and a large flat screen television took up a good portion of the wall.
Awed by the beauty captured in each photo Lola’s eyed grazed, her respect for her aunt grew and Lola found she wanted to know more about her.
A staircase along the back wall of the room led to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was a long hallway with open doors going down it. The first room was a bathroom, the second Blair’s office. At the end of the halls were two bedrooms.