Intertwined

Part 20: Betrayed

It took Max a while to convince her to come inside the house.

And despite the massive downpour, he didn't leave her side.

Eventually when she made it back in there, she was beyond drenched, cold, and yet in so much pain, no amount of hot chocolate or warm soup made her feel better.

Lukas was just as distraught.

He sat curled up in a ball on Max's couch crying under a blanket as Lauren paced the floor incessantly.

Luna- having heard the entirety of the situation from her bedroom- remained there- unsure if going down was the best idea when so much trauma occurred.

Sitting at the kitchen table, covered in a a large beach towel, Helen sits next to Max. Her eyes on fire from having cried so much and her body shivering extensively to the point of exhaustion.

"Helen- we need to get you changed. You can't stay in those wet clothes any more." Max states and Helen just remains in that spot.

"My baby is gone..." She mindlessly says.

"I know—I'm so sorry Helen."

"He's going to hurt him...and I told Logan not to come back to me..." She begins crying again and all Max can do is pull her into his body.

"He'll know he can come back. Helen- you're his mother and what he said was out of anger and confusion. He'll be back sooner than you think and he'll apologize for everything."

"He thinks I'm worse than Akash...he thinks...he..."

She cries hard against his neck and all Max can do is rub his hands up and down her shaking back.

"How does he know about the boys getting in trouble at school?" Lauren asks and Helen stills slightly and looks at Lauren. "How did he even know you were back in New York? And how did he know who I was?! Better question—why did he have your number at all?!"

Now, Lukas is interested in these questions as well. He gets up from the couch and both he and Lauren approach Helen.

"He has friends everywhere. He works for some big people—people who have ways of tracking and keeping tabs on anyone they see fit." Helen admits and Lauren narrows her eyes again.

"Okay—but that still doesn't explain everything."

"Mum...do you...do you still talk to him?!" Lukas asks and now Max pulls back and leans in his seat looking at Helen fully.

"I haven't talk to him in years, Lukas."

"You're lying." Lukas says. "I've known you my entire existence and I can tell when you aren't being honest. So what are you not telling us?!"

Helen sucks in a hard breath.

"Helen!" Lauren growls and she simply shakes her head as her son and best friend call her out on shit she really rather not put out there.

"Mum! The worst thing has already happened— so why don't you just  tell us the truth?"

"Okay!" She bursts and has everyone's undivided attention. "There have been a couple of times after I left your father that I...I could afford for us to live. I always worked three jobs and did night school, but couldn't always pay for housing and food for you kids and I had hit your grandparents up and uncles for money quite a bit that I felt horrible even after I paid them back. I couldn't make ends meet and I hate myself for doing it...but at times I had zero choice. I had to beg your father for a bit of cash just to get us by. I always paid him back with interest and...and that's why he has my number. It's sickening and I hate myself beyond all reason for doing it, but I refused child support when I left because that meant he could see you boys and have you alone and hurt you- and I couldn't let that happen...but I also couldn't lose you boys to foster care or him. I tried all I could to avoid it and I couldn't. And I'm so sorry!"