Page 18 of Silent Echo

“I’m extremely disappointed in your attitude, young man. It’s not acceptable for you to speak to me that way. Especially in public.”

He gives me a long look. “You promised ice cream.”

“I know. But first you have to promise that you’ll listen the first time, otherwise, the police might come and take you away. Little boys who sass their mommies can get in big trouble.”

His eyes narrow, and his face turns red. “You’re mean! My real mommy is nice.”

It feels like all the breath whooshes out of me. “I’m your real mommy. How many times do I have to tell you that? I would never give you away like she did. But if you’re not happy, I can take you to the orphanage. In fact, maybe we should go there now.”

“No, no.” He starts crying, his breath coming in uneven hitches.

I don’t reach out to comfort him—not yet. He needs to learn that his words have consequences. “Well then, I don’t want to ever hear another word about your old mommy. She doesn’t love you. She doesn’t want you. She’s forgotten all about you. She even sent me a letter saying how happy her life is without you.” In a few years, if he’s still asking, I’ll say they died, but I’m confident he’ll forget.

His shoulders are shaking now, and I’m starting to worry he’s getting hysterical.

“But I love you, Sebastion. I’ll never leave you. I promise. It’s not your fault. Your mommy is a bad person. She couldn’t see what a wonderful little boy you are. I’m sorry I had to say all those things, but it hurts my feelings when you talk about her. Especially since I’m the one who loves you and takes care of you. Can you understand that?”

He nods, his tears still falling, but his chest no longer heaving.

“So do you promise to never, ever, talk about her again?”

“I promise.”

“Okay, let’s go get you that ice cream.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Now

My things are all packed and in the car. I’ll take care of Sebastion’s room tomorrow. I pick up my phone and call my sister.

“Hey there, how’s it going?” she answers.

“Not so great. You remember I told you about Sebastion’s birth mom getting out of rehab?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, she’s tracked us down. I’ve already called my landlord and Venomed her one month’s rent to terminate and said she could keep the security deposit. You know I always fulfill my obligations. I let her know that I deducted the cost of the carbon monoxide detectors I’d had to buy when we moved. She’s lucky that I didn’t report her for the violation.”

Nora laughs. “Still making sure everyone follows the rules.”

“You know my motto, rules are there to keep society in order. Can you book us a place to stay until we get settled? One of those places with a kitchenette, washer, and dryer? An Airbnb in your name so we don’t have to show ID when we check in?”

“I guess so. I don’t understand why you have to keep running like this. Sebastion’s mom lost her parental rights. Couldn’t you have her arrested if she tries to come near Sebastion?”

“It’s not that. I don’t want him getting all upset. It’s taken me months to help him forget about her and embrace his new life with me. His therapist said it’s imperative that she have no contact with him. It could really set him back. We’ve had to doso much work. It’s why I haven’t even brought him to meet you and the kids yet.” There is no therapist, of course, but I’ve read enough books about this kind of thing to know that what I’m saying is true.

“Don’t get mad, but are you sure it’s good for him never to see her again? I don’t mean for you to ever give her custody back, but he may want to know her one day.”

Annoyance bubbles up, but I keep my voice even. “I’m not the one who terminated her rights. The court had good reason. You have to remember, he’s a traumatized child. The first few years of his life were spent neglected and malnourished. Who knows who his mother had in and out of that horrible rattrap she lived in. I’ve had him for almost a year, and he’s finally a happy little boy. Remember how Mom and Dad were and multiply that by a hundred. I’m never going to subject him to her influence again.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. When do you think you’ll get here?”

“We’ll leave in the morning. I haven’t told Sebastion that we’re moving yet. But I know when I tell him he’ll meet more family, he’ll be really excited.”

“I can’t wait to meet him, Pen. I still can’t believe you’re a mother!”

“You’re going to love him. Listen, please remind Frank and the boys not to say anything about his being adopted.”

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