Page 113 of Without Fault

“Yeah,” I rise from the bed and start searching her dressers. “The knife show really gave that away.” Everywhere I check comes up empty, and I decide she doesn’t actually keep anything in here and got that one from somewhere else. Someone is getting fired today, and if it’s Capri, then so be it.

“My brush is right there, Liam.” She shakes her head at me as if she fucking asked for it, but I keep my mouth shut and hand her the brush. “Thank you, sweetie.”

“Mhm.”

She pauses with the brush to her hair as she turns to me.

“Are you upset with me?” She looks mad that I’d be mad and I quickly shake my head because the last thing I need is for her to throw a fit on me after I just calmed her down.

“No, Mom. Of course not. I–”

“Good because it’s Capri who you should be mad at.”

Oh, trust me, I am.

“I just wanted to see my baby, and she started going on in that condescending voice of hers about how there’s no baby here and that Shanti was gone. Gonewhere?! HUH?” She yells out into the hallway, and I’m sure the entire block heard her.

“You’re right…” I start off slowly, careful not to even move too much in case her anger grows out of my control. “That’s a horrible joke.”

She nods in response as she brushes her hair, and I feel myself relax when I realize she isn't going to flip her rage on me.

“But how about we don’t pull knives on her?”

She huffs like I just asked her for the most absurd shit.

“Just punch her right in the face for me next time, got it?” I lay on my back with my eyes closed as she thinks about it, or whatever she’s thinking about.

I don’t think she’ll actually hit Capri and even if she does, I’ll deny ever encouraging it. She’s sick, it's totally not my fault what she does or doesn’t do.

“Where’s the baby, Liam?”

I look over at her, and she’s still brushing through her hair mindlessly. Ihatelying. She always told me it was horrible to do, and I feel like shit every time I come to see her because Ialwayshave to lie.

“She’s sleeping.”

“Can you go check on her?”

“I just did.”

“Are yousure?”

I let my eyes fall shut. Of all things, why does she have to remember Shanti? I get she was her baby, but she forgetsmeevery other day, and I wish she didn’t forget anything, but if she needed to forget something, I wish she’d forget her. This will all be so much easier for everyone.

“Liam?”

I look back at my mom, and she looks down at me with a smile. I blink away the stinging in my eyes as she brings a hand to my face. “You look tired, baby.”

“I am, Mom.” My voice comes out just above a whisper, and she lets out a sigh before lying on the bed beside me.

“How did your girlfriend like the flowers?”

I feel my brows furrow and I sit up on my elbow to look at her, but she only keeps her eyes on the ceiling as she plays with the end of her braids.

“She loved them.” I have no clue how she continues to remember our conversations about Sage, but, of course, sheremembers shit like this instead of what really happened to Shanti.

“What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, not having the heart to tell hershe'swhat's wrong since it isn't even her fault. “Nothing, Mom.” I lay back down beside her, and she smiles at me knowingly.

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