Page 190 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“I’ll leave you to it.” Brandon said.

“You don’t have too.” Maddie replied.

“I think you two have some catching up to do.” Brandon said glancing at Cole who frowned slightly.

Maddie looked between them and Brandon left.

“What did he mean, catching up?” Maddie said.

Cole sighed. “Let’s not talk about it now.” He said holding out another piece of fruit and she shook her head.

“What’s happened?” She said.

“Maddie, you need to rest and it’s not urgent. It can wait.”

“Tell me Cole.”

He sighed again. “Some things happened while you were gone.”

“What things?” She asked.

“My mother died.”

“What?” She gasped. “Oh my god Cole. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He said.

“No it’s not. How is that not urgent?” She said.

“Because she’s dead, we can’t change it and you need to focus on getting better.” He stated.

“I’m not sick. You said yourself that I’m being discharged today.”

“I want to focus on you Maddie.” He replied.

“You should be focusing on your family. On your dad.” She stated.

“He’s fine.”

“Cole your mum just died, there’s no way your dad is just ‘fine’.” Maddie said.

He shook his head.

“What happened?” Maddie asked. “I didn’t think her condition was that advanced.”

“It wasn’t. She had a heart attack.” Cole replied.

“Oh.”

“She died in her sleep. It was very peaceful by all accounts.” Cole stated.

“When?” She asked.

“Yesterday. Brandon and I didn’t get the call till later in the day. We were too focused on finding you.”

“Oh Cole.” She said. “We should go there. To the house.”

He gave her a small smile. “I was thinking it would be a good place for you to recover too.”

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