Page 61 of Valentine Dare

She didn’t even correct me on using foul language in front of her. Fuck! This was really too much for her. I knew where the conversation was heading, and why she was sitting thinking about what to do next. She was thinking about her own mental health and how she’d managed to pick herself up after dad died, and maybe just maybe, she was falling back into depression because this was too close to home.

“You want me to tell her to leave?”

I asked, getting straight to the point.

“No. Yes. Maybe. I just don’t know right now. This whole thing starts on Wednesday. You have two more months until your finals and then what is it for Jenny? I could say to her leave, but let’s be frank, where will she go? At this rate she could be facing a charge herself.”

She didn’t give me a chance to answer as she said, “I’ll call Dr. Henry in the morning, the old therapist I used to see. I’ll get myself back on track and book in some sessions and make me sort out my shit. In the meantime, don’t say anything to Jenny. Let’s just try and help her out as best we can.”

I nodded in agreement, feeling uncomfortable about putting mom in such a position because I was the one that said Jenny should stay, I suppose I was being selfish at the time, thinking about myself and not really worrying about how this would impact mom.

“I need to get dressed and maybe go out for a walk.”

“Work?”

I asked as I struggled to form a sentence. I felt as if something else was going on. Maybe mom had lost her job.

She stood up. “I called in sick. I couldn’t concentrate on anything even if I did go in. Tomorrow’s another day. Today, I’ll just take it easy.”

“Netflix is a good healer.”

She shrugged. “Not sure about that. All it does is make your mind numb for a while as you get lost in a series or movie. Then after watching it, your mind goes back to the thing you were escaping from in the first place. It doesn’t go away. I just need one day to myself, and I’ll be fine.”

She kissed me on the head and smiled. “You’re a good boy, Trent.”

Then she left the kitchen. I didn’t feel like a good boy. The complete opposite as I realized not only had I caused a mess with mom, but my whole family.

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