Page 125 of Fractured Fate

“I’ll be fine once I’m out of the car.”

Her mothers shared a look before her ma turned in her seat and gave her a sympathetic smile. “You think it might be because of your medicine?”

She’d finally told them about the depression medication while they were in the hotel in Atlanta. She couldn’t hide it from them and didn’t want to. She didn’t feel shame for needing a pill to sometimes help her get through the day, but she felt anxiety around whether they would look down on her or treat her differently.

“No. I’ve taken the pills for months now. If I were going to have side effects like this, it would have already happened.”

Within days of leaving Rosebrook Valley, sickness had settled in and got worse as the days passed until her mothers took notice. She kept experiencing cold sweats, extreme lethargy, stomach upset, and pounding migraines the likes of which she’d never experienced.

“I just need to rest. I think being in an unfamiliar place after only getting back from college has been a lot to handle.”

The only time the symptoms eased was one night after she got off the phone with Aiden a couple of days after she arrived in Atlanta. She called him after dinner while her mothers went to a show. She decided to stay in the room after vomiting twice; she didn’t want to ruin their night.

After disconnecting the call, she got the strangest ache that spread through her body until her body burned with arousal. She took care of it the only way she knew how when on her own. When her legs became weak, she sat in the bottom of the shower as the sickness took hold again and she vomited down the drain.

It made no sense to her why her body wouldn’t act right.

“Let’s get you inside then,” her mom said, opening her door and walking to the front door while her ma grabbed the luggage from the trunk.

Charlotte ambled up the paved walkway, rubbing at bleary eyes that wouldn’t focus.

“That’s so sweet of him,” her mom said, facing the front door.

Putting the luggage on the porch, her ma asked, “What’s sweet of who?”

“Aiden.” Her mom turned, a bright smile on her face. In her hands was a crystal vase filled with a bouquet of pink roses, a tiny envelope with “Charlotte” printed on the front clipped on a plastic stem. “I always knew there would be something between the two of you.”

Charlotte’s stomach tightened.

“I thought so too. Charlotte, sweetheart, why didn’t you tell us?”

Unlocking the door, her mom went inside carrying the roses while Charlotte stood frozen in place on the steps. How did she explain those weren’t from Aiden? How did she explain who the roses were from? Her chest tightened at the idea of facing what they would say to her for hiding everything from them.

“Charlotte?”

She yelped and flinched when her ma put a hand on her arm.

“What’s the matter with you? Are you absolutely sure we don’t need to take you to the doctor?”

“No!”

Her ma’s eyebrows lifted.

“I mean, no ma’am. Sorry.”

Her ma gave her a wary look, grabbing the handles of the two large rolling suitcases, her duffel bag balanced against the handle of one of them. “Well, let’s get inside so you can rest.”

Charlotte followed her inside the house.

“I put the roses in your bedroom on the dresser,” her mom said from the kitchen where she stood filling two glasses with Diet Coke. “Want some?”

“No. I think I’m just gonna lie down and take a nap.”

“Jen wanted us to go out with her and Beth for dinner,” her ma said, giving Charlotte a worried look. “I think I’m going to call her and cancel.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. Go out.” At both of her mothers’ twin frowns, she said, “Seriously. If I get worse, I’ll call you, I promise. I’m already starting to feel better now that we’re home.”

“If you’re sure,” her mom started but Charlotte held up a hand.