Amarillo Moxie [Complete]

An Underhanded Scoundrel?

Time seemed to stop as Rhian looked down at her mother laying in the tub. There was a trail of blood that ran from her mother's lips down into the water. Their mothers' eyes were closed and she looked at peace. There was a bottle on the floor with pills sprawled about. Once Rhian's mind could somewhat process the scene, she started to scream, yelling for her sisters to bring a towel to cover their mother's exposed body. The rest of that afternoon was a blur from calling for an ambulance, to rushing their mother to the hospital, to pacing the waiting room floor, waiting for some response from a doctor. Rhian could barely make out her sisters' sobs and Trevor's words trying to comfort them in their time of need. Minutes felt like hours and she felt like going into despair, but she couldn't, someone had to be the pillar of strength of the three.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, a doctor emerged with some news. And it wasn't good.

"Are you the family of Melody Robeson?"

"Yes, we are her daughters."

"I'm really sorry to have to tell you this, but we couldn't revive your mother."

"No, no, that can't be right. My mother is a fighter, she wouldn't leave us."

"I'm so sorry, for your loss. I know your mother fought a brave fight, with having cancer."

"Cancer! What cancer?!"

"Your mother didn't tell you about her illness?"

"No!"

"I know this is not the time to fill you in on such a thing, but she was in her last stage of ovarian cancer."

"But she didn't look sick at all!" Suddenly she remembered her mother's haunting last words. "I'm going to take a long nap." Now things make sense, the way her mother was looking off into the distance when they'd finished the reading of her father's will, and he way she was acting after they arrived home. How could she not have seen right through her mother? Why didn't their mother tell them about the cancer? When there was nothing more to say, Rhian and Trevor had to drag her sisters out of the hospital and the ride home was filled with sobbing from her sisters. They had cried themselves to sleep which felt the atmosphere in the car a bit tense.

Trevor didn't know what else to say himself. His heart was just as heavy as theirs. But to lose both parents back to back stung. He watched Rhian looking out the passenger side window, watched her looking at nothing really. He knew her mind was still trying to process everything. They hadn't even had a chance to fulfill their father's wishes and now they'd have to bury their mother. Once he pulled up to their home, Rhian just sat in the truck as Trevor scooped up her sisters one by one to take them inside. When he reemerged from the house, he opened the car door and stood there until she recognized his presence. When she raised her head to meet his eyes, all she could ask was why.

"Come on, let me take you inside."

"I... I just don't understand what's happening. Why is all this happening to us?"

Once he coaxed her out of the car, he led her up the stairs and into the house.

"Let's go up to your room, you need to lay down."

She wanted to protest but nothing came out, she just stood there staring blankly at him. Trevor knew her mind was in a scramble so he scooped her up, climbed the stairs to her room and placed her on her bed. Rhian looked around her room as if she didn't know where she was. Seconds later she started picking up stray socks and other pieces of clothing that littered the floor, keeping herself busy so she wouldn't be reduced to tears.

"Can you go downstairs and start on dinner? I'd like to eat early. I have a lot of things to do and.."

"Rhian.."