Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Book 11 in the Forever Series)

Chapter 18

Demi

When I heard Mercy's weak voice interrupt the argument I was having with Nick, I was surprised, but also relieved. Hearing her voice made my heart happy, because I was worried I'd never hear it again. "Mercy! You're awake, Sweetie. You have no idea how happy I am." I walked to her bed & hugged her, then kissed the top of her head.

"Yea, I've been awake. You & Dad fighting woke me up. Can you stop fighting about me, please?" Mercy's voice was scratchy, probably because of her throwing up, earlier, or the tube they had to put down her throat, at one point.

"We shouldn't have been fighting. We're sorry." I smiled at my daughter, as I stepped away from her bed, to let Nick come to her bedside to hug & kiss her.

"We were just worried about you, Baby Girl." Nick said, his voice shaking, a little. I saw Mercy smile at her dad, like she usually did when he called her, 'baby girl.' "We were a little scared because of what happened, as you can imagine."

"I get it. I'm sorry I scared you."

"Why did you get so drunk, Mercy?" Nick asked, in a cautious tone & I stepped closer to her bed so I could hear.

"I can't say."

"What do you mean you can't say?" My tone of voice was serious, laced with annoyance.

Nick put a hand up, in front of me. "Demi, don't push her. She can talk when she's ready."

"Thank you, Daddy." Mercy replied, smugly, which annoyed me even more than when Nick put his hand up to silene me.

I heard Nick breathe out of his nose, as he nodded. "You are going to have to stay here for treatment, though."

"I want to go to Cast Centers." Mercy blurted out, but in a quiet voice.

"You do?" I asked, in a high voice.

"Yea. I know I need help & I want to go there, because I know they helped you."

"Yes, they did. I wouldn't be here, if it wasn't for them."

"Mike has a bed waiting for you." Nick spoke up, as he ran his hand over the top of Mercy's head.

"Good. I can't tell you guys, but I know I have this pain from something, which is why I'd drink or smoke pot. It made the pain better." Mercy's chin was quivering, making my heart break.

"Do you think you have...bipolar?" It was tough to say that word to my daughter, because I didn't want any of my kids to have this mental illness.

Mercy shook her head, quickly. "I've read about it & I don't have the highs & lows. I just have.... Um... it's just guilt about something but I can't tell you guys. I don't know that I can ever tell you."

"I hope you can tell us one day. I want you to get help, but sometimes part of the healing is talking about what your issues are or admitting what the issue is." I ran my hand up & down Mercy's leg, avoiding her gaze.

"I can't promise anything. Can we be done talking about it?" Mercy rolled her eyes, then turned her head.

"Of course. We don't need to talk about it. That's what the professionals at Cast Centers will be for." Nick smiled at Mercy, as she glanced up at him. "Let's talk about something else."

"Okay." Mercy pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Let's talk about when you found Mom in a hotel room on the bathroom floor. What happened? When was that?"

I sucked in my breath as Nick & Mercy both looked at me, each with a different set of eyes. Mercy was watching me, with a curious gleam in her eyes, while Nick had a hint of sorrow in his. I let a gush of air come out of my mouth as I shook my head. "It was nothing. It was a long time ago & it was back when we toured together as kids. I was drinking & I passed out." I crossed my arms, defensively, then tried to change the subject. "Anyway, you should be able to get out of here soon. Cast Centers will definitely be better. Better food, better view..." I stopped talking when Mercy rolled her eyes again.