Page 8 of Edge of Heaven

Applause drowns out everything else.

It’s time to do what I do—it’s time to rock.

Chapter2

Taryn

“Mommy, when are you coming home?”

Toby sounds tired, which breaks my heart.

“Next week,” I tell him.

His face lights up.

“Can you help me with my fractions? It’s hard.”

“I can try. Math wasn’t my best subject.”

“Grandma doesn’t like it either.” He wrinkles his nose.

“We’ll figure it out,” I promise. “What else are you working on?”

“Cursive.” Another funny face. “It’shard. Why is Grandma making me learn cursive? And I don’t even get to see my friends anymore now that I’m in this dumb hospital. It’s not fair.”

Every time we have this kind of conversation, it breaks my heart. It’s so hard to explain why he has to deal with this. How do you talk about cancer to an eight-year-old? He knows the basics, but I don’t think he truly grasps the severity of his illness. And honestly, my mother and I have tried to downplay it because he was only five when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I know it’s hard,” I say softly, “but I saw your grades, and you’re doing really well this term.” He’s being home schooled because his immune system is shot during the treatment, so he can’t risk being around other kids who might get him sick.

He’s been a trooper, though, and we’re halfway through the treatment. Six months down, six to go.

But I don’t know which one of us is suffering more.

Honestly, the relationship with Callum was okay for a couple of months. Then he started going back to his old ways, arguing with me all the time, raising his voice, and calling me names. Now he’s started with emotional abuse, guilt trips, and the constant reminders about how much my kid is costing him.

I pointed out that he promised he wouldn’t do that, and he hasn’t done it since, but it’s only been a week. I’m leaving soon and that always brings out the worst in him. He hates when I’m gone, and I don’t understand it. He barely acknowledges me when I’m here unless he wants sex, and the rest of the time he either ignores me or talks down to me.

I never thought I’d be one of those women who put up with an abusive man, but here I am. If it weren’t for Toby, I would be long gone, but I’m caught in the worst kind of catch-22. If I stay, Callum pays for Toby’s treatment and I don’t have to worry about my child. If I leave, I don’t know how I’ll keep paying for everything Toby needs. I don’t have much work lined up—thanks to Callum’s possessiveness—so I’m stuck.

And I’ve never felt more alone.

Even before this thing with Toby started, Callum was one of those guys who talked a good game but didn’t usually come through. Now that he knows he has me over a barrel, it’s a thousand times worse.

I hear the lock of the hotel room door disengage and hurriedly tell Toby I love him. “I’ll see you in less than a week,” I tell him. “I love you.”

“I love you, Mommy!”

I disconnect as Callum walks in with his usual scowl. “What are you doing?” he demands.

“I just hung up with Toby,” I say, pasting what I hope is a sweet smile on my face. “What’s up?”

“Kid doing okay?” he asks gruffly.

“The treatments make him really tired, but otherwise, he seems to be responding well.”

“Good.” He nods. “Anyway, we need to get to the arena early. There are a bunch of record label guys coming in from L.A. They want to do some press and have us sign a bunch of posters. Are you ready to go?”

“Of course.” I stand up and stuff my laptop into my bag. “I’m always ready.”

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