Homebound

Chapter ThirtySix

I'm blinded by rage as I drive home. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Who in their right mind just dismisses someone when they have a worry, especially a serious one like this? At least put it on record or something, right? It's not like Amos and Ace are just some random guys, there's motive for revenge. Do something, track their locations, and question them. Do something!

I probably shouldn't be driving with such a clouded mind but I push the thought aside. No one is available to drive me and all I want is to get home and relax, let this anger drain from me.

My phone has been ringing since I pulled out of the police station. It's in my bag by the footwell on the passenger side and I can neither reach it nor want to reach for it while driving.

"Shut up" I mumble when it rings for a second time. I had worried when it rang for the first time that it was possibly Hex but it's too early for him to call and he also wouldn't have been able to call back a second time due to the one phone call a day policy.

I can feel my eyebrow twitch as the ringing echos in my head, if it rings a third time I'll go crazy.

A car behind me beeps when I take too long to go once the light turns green. The ringing finally stops and I take a deep breath, just wanting to get home where I can have a breather and relax.

I finally snap when the phone rings again. I don't even bother indicating out of traffic before I pull over and come to an abrupt halt. I puff like a bull through my nose and dig through my bag before allocating the ringing phone.

I answer it without looking at the caller ID.

"What?" I nearly hiss into the speaker. My face is hot and my cheeks are red from anger as I look in the mirror, the top of my chest that peaks out of my shirt has become a red rash of anxiety.

"Hi honey" the sound of my mothers voice calms me instantly. But then my anxiety spikes again when I hear her tone of voice. Something is wrong, something has happened and its made her upset.

"Hi mum" I say quietly as I wait for her to tell me the bad news.

She says nothing before a broken sob rips from her throat and I know instanty what has caused it. I put the phone on speaker and place it in my lap as I lean my head back on the headrest and watch the passing traffic by go. Tears develop in the back of my eyes when I hear how upset she is on the other end of the line.

"Your father, h-he-" she cuts herself off with another sob and it makes me clench my eyes shut as her pain rips my heart out.

I say nothing. I don't know what to say, I don't know what she wants to hear and I don't know what has actually happened. I allow her to cry on the phone for a few moments as I run my hands through my hair and take deep breathes, hoping to stop myself from having a breakdown.

"Do you-" I have to stop and clear my throat of the lump before continuing. I can't cry, it'll only make her more upset "do you want me to pick you up?" I bring the phone back to my ear and whisper so that she can't hear the sadness in my tone.

"Yes please, honey. I love you so much" she cries into the phone although it comes across muted when she tries to cover up her crying with her palm.

"I love you too mum".

Mum is standing at the front door waiting for me when I arrive. My heart hurts at the sight of her so frail and weak. She has her arms wrapped tightly around her waist and her face is splotchy from crying. Beside her is a suitcase and I wonder if this is finally it, is this finally the day my parents separate? They can't legally divorce, once you're assigned a Platonic or Darling then that's it; there is no second chance, at least legally. They can live separately and have different partners but they'll never be seen in the eyes of the law like a relationship with a Darling or Platonic is.