Page 45 of Wicked Nasty

“It’s okay. Drink some orange juice and take that pill. Bacon will be ready soon and the cinnamon rolls just came out of the oven. Now sit down.”

I reluctantly take a seat on the stool, feeling guilty for causing her extra work in the morning.

That's when Danny walks in and scowls at me before turning around and storming back out of the room.

My stomach twists with guilt and regret as I realize the impact of my actions on those around me.

Louise looks up from the sizzling pan with a deep frown etched on her face. "Was that Danny?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.

I hesitate before nodding, not wanting to give him anymore thought than I already have.

She lets out a heavy sigh as she carefully transfers the crispy bacon onto a plate. "He just hasn't been the same since Daisy died."

My heart clenches at the mention of his late sister. "I can imagine it must be hard for him."

She shakes her head, her eyes filled with sadness. "He feels responsible for what happened. We've tried to tell him it wasn't his fault, but sometimes it's hard to get through to Danny."

I try to think of something comforting to say, but my mind draws a blank. "Some of us just aren't good at dealing with emotions," I offer weakly.

A faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "You don't say." We both let out a soft laugh, momentarily breaking the somber mood. "Speaking of emotions... Danny told us it was your eighteenth birthday last night."

The memories of the previous night flood back and I can feel my emotions bubbling up inside me. "Yes, but I don't really celebrate it."

"Because of your mother?" she asks gently.

I nod, my throat tightening at the mention of the devil they call my mother.

Louise offers a small smile of understanding. "That's okay. How about we just have a small cake here? Nothing too big or flashy."

I bite my lip, unsure if I want any sort of celebration. "I don't know..."

"It will be small, I promise. What flavor do you like?"

Her kind gesture warms my heart and I can't help but feel grateful for being included in their family moment.

"I don't really know. Chocolate?"

She laughs, the sound tinkling like bells in the air.

"How about I surprise you?"

"That sounds good." I reply, curious to see what she has in store for me.

Louise turns and walks over to me, her steps light and graceful. She takes my hands into hers, the warmth of her touch instantly comforting. "I'm sorry, Becca," she breathes, her gaze holding mine. "I'm sorry for what that woman did to you. She never deserved a daughter like you. I promise to show you what an actual mother looks like for however long you stay with us."

A small, sad smile tugs at my lips as I squeeze her hands gently. "It's okay," I tell her, my voice soft but sincere. "I learned to block her out. Thank you for breakfast, but I should go finish up some homework."

As I walk upstairs to my room, I can feel Louise’s kind words echoing in my mind, warming my heart in a way that I haven't felt before.

But once I'm alone in my room, my thoughts drift back to Katya and all the memories we shared together. Pulling out the old letters and photos from under my pillow, I slowly sort through them and allow myself to get lost in the bittersweet nostalgia.

A knock on my door interrupts my reverie, and I look up to see Louise standing there with a gentle smile on her face. "Hey," she says softly. "Dad and I are going out for a bit. Do you want to come?"

I smile gratefully at her genuine attempt to include me in their family outing. "I have a huge test coming up, otherwise I would," I reply apologetically. "But thank you for asking."

As she closes the door, I wait until I hear their car leave before taking a deep breath and letting myself succumb to the exhaustion that has been building up. Tears prick at my eyes as I think of Katya and all the things we used to do together.

But I quickly push those thoughts away, knowing they will only make me feel worse. Yawning, I decide it's time for a much-needed nap. Curling up on my bed with a book in hand, I slowly drift off into a peaceful slumber, dreaming of happier times spent with my best friend.

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