Page 61 of A Girl, Unbroken
I crawl around the corner of the couch and catch a glimpse of Mom across the seat. Her face is as white as the wall. “You gave me a drug that causes severe depression. It’s not even allowed to be prescribed anymore,” she says now. “That’s assault.”
Dad doesn’t even bat an eyelid. “I’m keeping you safe. That’s all.”
“By giving me something that makes me sick?”
“You’re not safe outside.”
Mom stares at him, stunned. “I’ve read the letter. The one from the police department.”
“You were in my office?”
“Florentine and Nicholas Jr.—they were killed. The Forb Hotel… It was arson.”
Dad looks lost for a moment. “The perpetrator was caught.”
Mom shakes her head. “You’re afraid it’ll happen again. Powerful men like you have lots of enemies. That’s why you want to lock Willa and me up. If it were up to you, we’d only stay in the house.”
“At least you’ll be safe there.”
“You can’t lock us away from the world for the rest of our lives! You’ve definitely gone too far with the medication.” Mom is furious, even her cinnamon-colored braids seem to be electrified. I’ve never seen her this way. And she seems muchmore alive and not as weak and battered as usual. Just weeks ago, I thought even a smile would take all her energy.
I want to crawl back and pretend I just came from the bathroom when I hear Mom say, “When we get to the mainland, I’ll go. I’m taking Willa with me and you won’t stop me.”
Silence.
I stay in my hiding place. At some point, Dad speaks.
“Ivy-Rose…be reasonable. If you don’t want to lose Willa, you have to stay with me. No court in the world will give you custody. Dr. Moore will certify that you are mentally unstable.”
I want to jump up and tell them to get along, that I love them, and that we can work everything out because we’re family, but Mom says,
“No court in the world will ever give you custody if it finds out what you did.”
Dad laughs. “You’ll have to prove it first. Besides, I know every single judge in this city personally.”
Mom takes a deep breath. “That won’t do you any good this time.”
“You think so, right?”
“You’re not her father, Nicholas.”
The words spin around me and I feel dizzy. Dad isn’t my dad? Now Mom is lying! What she’s saying can’t possibly be true. Dad is right. She’s really sick and needs to take her pills again. I still don’t dare come out of my hiding place, but I don’t crawl back either.
I peek over the seat again. Dad is deathly pale. His lips are a single thin line, but it’s his eyes that give me goose bumps. “What are you saying?” He’s as shocked as I am.
“I want to go ashore. Now!” Mom demands.
My dad still says nothing. He doesn’t scream, he doesn’t rave, he just says in a strained voice, “Okay. We’re going back. But first, we’ll eat together. One last time. I’ll cook.”
Dad cooks? He’s never cooked before. Maybe that means something. Maybe he has a plan to change Mom’s mind so she will come to her senses. I’m sure everything will become clear over dinner. Maybe he’ll put those pills in her so she can go back to normal.
I look at Mom. She stares at Dad. “I’m not hungry…” After a while, she asks, “Has Willa spoken to you?”
My heart skips a beat. Oh, Dad, please don’t betray me!
Dad remains silent for a long time and looks around the open living area as if he knows I am there. “Her bunny has a rip where you put the pills in. The pills fell out.” He doesn’t say anything else.
I breathe a sigh of relief, then crawl back on all fours and pretend I’ve just come from the bathroom. When I enter the living area again, I hear Dad ask,
