Page 194 of Releasing 10
My whole world bottomed out the moment those words came out of my mother’s mouth.
“What are youtalkingabout?” Throwing off my covers, I jumped out of bed and reached for my sweatpants. “What do youmean Caoimhepassed away?” I waited for her to explain, and when she just continued to cry, I started to panic. “Mam! What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Come here, love.” Dad strode into my room, moving straight for my mother. “I’m here.”
Mam folded into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Pete!”
“I know,” he replied in a soothing tone, wrapping her up in his arms. “I’ve got you.”
Meanwhile, I scrambled to throw my clothes on as quickly as I could, while demanding, “What the hell is happening?”
“Caoimhe had an accident tonight, son,” Dad explained in that steady, soothing tone that made everything feel better. The tone I hadn’t heard him use for years. “It’s serious, and we need to go,” he continued, holding on to my mother, who looked like she had lost all ability to stand on her own feet. In fact, if Dad let go of her now, I had no doubt Mam would hit the floor like a sack of spuds. “Mark’s over at Old Hall House with Lizzie, talking to the Gardaí.”
“At thehouse?” I gaped at my father, feeling like I was two seconds away from having a stroke. “What are youtalkingabout?”
“Just go downstairs and get in my car,” Dad instructed, moving for the door with my mother. “We’ll talk on the way.”
“Okay, okay,” I strangled out, hurrying after them, even though I knew they were mistaken.
Whatever was happening, my parents had gotten it wrong.
Lizzie and Caoimhe were inTexaswith their parents.
Christ, evenMarkwas in Texas with their family.
This was a huge misunderstanding.
It had to be.
NO MATTER WHAT
Lizzie
APRIL 25, 2000
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER…”
“Liz?”
“You can’t keep us locked in here forever…”
“It’s me, Hugh.”
“She’s a child, you monster. She’s a fucking baby and you put a baby inside her…”
“Can you hear me, Liz?”
“He’s a monster, Lizzie. You need to get out…”
“I’m right here, okay?”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you both…”
“I won’t leave you on your own, Liz, I promise.”
“Run, Lizzie, and don’t look back…”
“No matter what.”
