Page 120 of Reflections of Peonies
Bryce raised his hands defensively. “It wasn’t like that,” he replied earnestly. “We discussed our mother, and we showed her a photo. Then she just... shut down.”
That explanation didn’t quite add up. “Why would a photo trigger this?”
Before I could probe further, Julian looked up as Finn entered and shot him a wary look. “What do you know?” he challenged.
I was about to defend him when I noticed him watching Bianca with a strangely curious look.
“Finn?” I probed.
He blinked, his startled eyes turning toward me. “I was thinking…” He sounded unsure. “She used to get a bit like this back when she talked about her first spirit. This is much worse, obviously, but it’s the same look.”
My heart skipped a beat, pulling my focus back to the woman seated lifelessly before us. There was a locket clutched in her hand. Bryce had mentioned that it contained a photograph of their mother.
Damn.
A heavy dread sank in my chest, and I silently prayed that my growing suspicions were mistaken.
“You don’t think…” Brayden’s voice trailed, tinged with hesitance.
“Alyssa died shortly after Bianca was born,” I murmured, running a hand over my face, the pieces aligning in my mind. “It’s likely that the first spirit Bianca ever encountered was her mother’s.”
“I’m glad you called me.”Trinity stepped from the room, closing Bianca’s bedroom door behind her. Julian remained inside—much to my everlasting annoyance—while the rest of us, including Miles and Titus, had been sequestered in the hallway.
I’d been excluded in my own home. It was difficult not to take offense. But this was more important—
“What do you think?” I asked, pushing myself from the wall.
Trinity gave me a sharp look. “Damen, you’ve encountered catatonic patients before. Gregory’s sub-specialty is psychological disorders.”
“I’m aware of that!” I felt my cheeks warm with frustration. “I recognize the signs. I didn’t want to assume without—”
“You’d be right to assume,” she said, her expression troubled. “She’s suffering from a severe catatonic stupor. It’s been two hours, and she’s not responding to external stimuli.” Trinity turned to Bryce. “If the situation doesn’t improve, I’m going to insist that she go to the hospital.”
“You can’t do that!” Titus had moved to protest, but I spoke up first. “She has trauma related to hospitals. Especially after what happened last time. It might exacerbate the condition, and she could never come out of it.”
Trinity held her clipboard to her chest, and she squared her shoulders. “Damen, she is not even responding enough to eat or drink. I’ve already started her IV, but that is not a good sign. If itwere anyone else, I would have already admitted her. She needs to be monitored.”
Bryce seemed to contemplate this. “Do you think—”
“No!” I pointed at him as a seething hatred burned through me. “Don’t you dare make it worse!”
Bryce glanced at Finn.
“Don’t look at me.” Finn shrugged. “This is one of the reasons for your joke of a marriage. Make a decision.”
“I haven’t forgotten that you offered.” Bryce gritted his teeth. Surprise chased away my anger—I hadn’t known about this. But Bryce had already moved on. “You’ve known her longer than the rest of us, and you understand how she thinks. What would you do?”
Finn frowned, his gaze turning to the floor as his shoulders slumped. “She’ll never trust you again if you put her in the hospital. It’s probably the worst thing you could do right now. I would give her some time.”
“Then not yet.” Bryce crossed his arms, turning to face Trinity. “What other options do we have?”
Trinity clenched her jaw, pausing a moment before she responded. “Well, if she doesn’t return to normal soon, you won’t have a choice. But for now, keep her under observation. Try to talk to her. It might bring her out of it. But I will move her, with or without your approval, if nothing changes within the next twenty-four hours.”
Bryce opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “You cannot be afraid to make her angry at you,” she said, cutting him off. “It is now your responsibility to make difficult decisions, but if you can’t, I will go to your father directly. Once I plead my case, he will agree.”
The following day passed slowly,and Bianca was never left alone. Occasionally, she’d sleep. But when she woke, there was no change to her condition.
Finn’s fiddling had been getting on my nerves. Between his nervousness and Julian’s sullen attitude toward him, I couldn’t stand it anymore.
