Page 115 of Sweet Ruin

“Matthew kept all this from me too?”

“I asked him to,” my mom said. “I told him to tell you he found the letter and contacted me because of it. I wasn’t ready to tell you about the cancer. And when he offered to send you to one of the best schools in the country, I knew I needed to keep the truth from you a while longer. You deserved this incredible opportunity, and I wanted to make sure you went to Weybridge Academy and set yourself up for a future without me.”

My body started to shake as she hinted at a world where she didn’t exist. I stood from the couch and paced away from her. I couldn’t believe she’d kept this all from me. That she’d had to plan for life after she died. But most of all, I couldn’t believe she’d gone through this alone—and the guilt I felt was crippling.

“Isobel…” My mom moved to follow me off the couch, but I lifted a hand, gesturing for her to keep back. This was one thing too much for me right now. I hadn’t even begun to accept my mom had cancer. How was I supposed to come to terms with the fact my parents had both been lying and the reason my father was finally in my life was because of the cancer too.

“I just… I can’t… I need a minute.”

“Take all the time you need,” she said.

I went to my room without responding, closing the door firmly behind me. As it closed, tears started to flow down my cheeks. Apparently, the reason I hadn’t cried over Wes was because my body somehow knew this moment was coming and needed to be ready.

I knew I was probably dealing with this all the wrong way. I was supposed to be out there hugging my mom and telling her it was all going to be okay. But instead, I was in here crying. Crying because I was scared for her. Crying because she’d lied. I was crying because she’d let me leave when she’d needed me here all this time.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and found myself calling the last person I expected.

Noah answered on the second ring. “Isobel?”

I wasn’t sure why I’d called him. He wasn’t my boyfriend. He wasn’t even really my friend. But for some reason, he was the one person whose voice I wanted to hear right now.

I tried to come up with a response but a croaky sob was all I managed.

Noah swore. “Isobel, are you okay? What’s happened?”

Again, I couldn’t seem to muster the words to respond.

“Is this about Wes? I heard you two broke up.”

“Not Wes.” Finally, I found my voice. “I’m not crying about Wes.”

“Then what the hell is wrong?” He sounded somewhat panicked, but it was hardly surprising given I’d called him late at night sobbing without any explanation.

“It’s my mom…” I whispered. “She’s sick. She says she’s going to be okay, but it’s cancer, so how can she be sure?”

Noah swore again, and there was a brief pause before he spoke. “I’m coming to Rapid Bay.”

“What? No, you don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do. I might not have access to my grandfather’s jet anymore, but I’ll find a way.”

“Noah, that’s crazy.”

His voice became muffled, and it sounded as though he was talking to someone else, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. When he came on the line again, I tried to dissuade him once more.

“You can’t just fly here because I’m crying,” I said.

“Yes, I can. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Okay?”

I didn’t have the energy to fight him. And if I was being honest with myself, I knew I wanted him here. “Okay. Thank you.” I glanced at the door behind me, knowing I should be out there with my mom. “I need to go.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

I hung up the phone and stared at it for several long moments. I wasn’t really sure what had just happened, but a part of me was relieved. This burden felt like too much for me to bear alone, and knowing Noah was coming, that he was going to be here, made it a little easier to breathe.

When I went back out to my mom, she was pacing the living room, chewing her nails. She went completely still when she saw I’d returned.

“I’m sorry for running out like that,” I said before I walked over and gathered her in a hug. She relaxed into my arms, and I held her even tighter. “I’m scared.”

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