Lies

Chapter 6:

"Thank you, Iris." My mother said, getting into my van and setting her purse down by her feet. Her perfume blew it's way over to me. It was a pleasant vanilla smell, the one she wore quite often and with that, she smiled over at me and grabbed my hand, squeezing it for comfort.

"Are you ready?" I asked, looking at her and smiling. My mother nodded and let go of my hand, looking straight at their four story home. My father was waving at us from the porch, giving me a knot inside my stomach. My mind still couldn't process what he was doing there and how he knew those people. He didn't associate himself with those kinds of people on a regular basis and he must try to cover up what he didn't want people to see or know. It was his speciality, next to keeping secrets. He was the king of secrets, everyone including my mother knew that.

"Has dad been working lately?" I asked, taking one last look at him before I pulled the van out of the driveway. I pulled behind an Audi that wasn't going the speed limit.

"Yes and he has actually been working out. I'm really proud of him and he is starting to make me feel bad about myself." My mother said, smiling and hugging herself.

My eyes widened. She didn't know. But my father told her everything. He told her his deepest, darkest secrets that could cost him time in jail and his desires that might not make her very happy. What made this time different? Was it that bad that she didn't even know?

"Well, that's good to hear. I remember dad saying he wanted to get to the gym." I answered, stopping at a stop light. I watched as a mother and a young son walked across the sidewalk, holding hands. The mother looked tired and beat up with black surrounding her right eye. She was looking down but it was a hard thing to miss. She made it across the crosswalk and met up with a large man holding a briefcase.

The light turned green. I stepped on the accelerator and the van gently rolled forward. A small car sped past me, making my palms start to sweat. I looked over at my mother who looked like she was enjoying the view of our quaint town that our ancestors had built many years ago.

"Is it any different than when we lived here?" I asked, still behind the Audi that wasn't following the speed limit. I sighed in annoyance. My mother giggled from her spot in the passenger seat.

"The town is different but you're still the same." My mother joked, grabbing onto my arm. I shook my head as she laughed, my blonde hair blocking my eyes from viewing the road. I pushed the loose strands from my face and concentrated on the road.

I could see the hospital come into view as we drove closer. My heart was pounding as if we were meeting our doom and there was nothing else we could do to stop it. I guess I was scared. I was scared for my mom the most. She was such a wonderful, inspiring woman and she had to go through this. I knew this was a test for her; a test to see how strong she was and how long she could take it. But I knew my mother and I knew that was more than strong. She raised five of us for goodness sake and I knew deep down that she was going to be fine, no matter the doubt I felt inside.

I drove into the vast parking lot, taking note of the many cars parked around the lot. I pulled into the guest parking lot and killed the engine. The car turned off and was silent. My mother looked ahead, wringing her hands together in her lap. I could tell she was nervous by the way she was breathing and looking off into the oblivion. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, just like she had done when we first started.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, looking at her and encouraging her to look at me. She did, making my heart sink. Her eyes were full of tears and her breathing was ragged. I engulfed her in a hug and brought my hand to her back, comforting her just like she had done when I was going through hard times.