Bleeding Hearts

CHAPTER 7

Ashley’s POV

Mom looked at me when I came into the living room. Her mouth set in a deep frown and she focused her eyes back on the papers she was reading.

I will never trust uncle John on his words again.

I told him not to tell mom anything and he did the exact opposite. He knew how sensitive she was when it came to me.

Especially after that accident.

Even a minor scratch on me made her panic.

I was glad that he didn’t mention Nathaniel Rothschild to mom.

I never wanted her to know of that man.

“Why are you standing here?” Fey and Sam came as well. I motioned toward mom in silence.

“Mom!” Fey went to her. “For how long are you going to mope?” I followed her with Sam and we sat around our mother.

“She is fine, mom.” Sam tried to reason with her too. “Don’t be like this, please.”

“Yeah, mom!” Fey nodded. “Don’t be like this. It could have happened to anyone.”

“Don’t try to justify it,” Mom looked at her sternly. “She could have–”

“I am sitting in front of you, aren’t I?” I palmed her clenched hand. “Nothing is going to happen to me, mom. Nothing is going to happen to any of us.”

“I cannot win when you team up against me.” She scowled at us. “But never again are you going to walk around carelessly like this or do something dangerous.” She looked between us. “Any one of you.”

“Okay.” We said in unison.

“Tell me right away if there is something wrong. I know you kids like your privacy but I am a single parent. At least, give me some peace of mind to sleep at night without worrying about your safety.”

“Okay,” We said again.

“And stop synching,” She groaned in annoyance. “Now leave me alone.”

“You are not going to the office?” I asked her. “I thought you had a meeting.”

“I am having the meeting at home,” she answered. “I just cannot leave you alone after what happened.”

We just looked at each other.

“Why?” She looked at us. “Did John ask you to convince me to take it to the office?”

“He is against you having a meeting over here?” I asked her.

“Without any solid explanation,” Mom huffed. “I don’t know why he is so edgy these days?”

“It’s the adult thing,” Fey whispered to me. She straightened up when mom glared at her.

“We are not expected to act like we don’t exist when you will be having this meeting, right?” Sam asked her. “I cannot pretend like a ghost.” He crossed his arms in a big no.

“Me too,” Fey nodded in agreement. “It’s impossible for me as well.”

“I think I know why John didn’t want me to have the meeting at home,” Mom said solemnly while looking at Fey and Sam.

“You two don’t need to act like non-existent species.” I snickered at their jaw-dropping expressions. “It’s still snowing,” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Bloody hell!” Sam grinned. “Of course.” He high-fived Fey.

Our mother looked between us, confused.