Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 30: Harper

Sunday, 8:13 A.M. PST

Mornings have always been my favorite; I’m a weird one like that. Even when I have nothing planned for the day, I shuffle downstairs before the alarms go off.

“I was expecting you!” Mom says as I turn the corner, sleep lining her voice. She slides a mug across the island centering the kitchen. “I’ve already got your coffee made, just the way you like it.”

I thank her and hop up onto the stool across from where she stands partially slumped over the counter. A small yawn escapes my lips before I take a sip.

“You flying out to see Hayden today?” I ask as soon as my groggy mind can form the question.

Mom nods as she sips her coffee. “I’m supposed to,” she says after, “they called and asked me to attend a meeting on Wednesday too though. Maybe I should just wait?” 

A meeting?

I find myself growing alert faster, my mind rushing to question what it could be for.

Did Hayden do something? Is she okay? Is the baby okay? 

“A meeting?” I ask before the thoughts eat away at my brain and make me crazy. “Is everything alright?” 

Mom shifts her demeanor in the way she usually does when Hayden is the subject of conversation. 

If it weren’t for the small smile that spreads across her face, I might still worry.

“Actually, yes!” she answers with excitement in her voice. “That’s what the meeting is about!”

I let out a sigh of relief. Before I even have to ask for her to elaborate, she continues.

“Aside from a small spat with her roommate, the doctor is really impressed with how responsive she’s been to therapy and medication!” She exclaims. “They just want to touch base with her treatment plan. Nothing bad!”

I can tell Mom is happy about the news; I am too!! I mean, as happy as I could be…

My mind lingers on the “medications” part of mom’s sentence, and I’m instantly pulled back to some of mine and Hayden’s earliest heart to hearts. She knew that she wasn’t always right in the head. She didn’t want to take medications to fix it though; That was something she was always against.

I want to feel bad, but if it's helping...

“Wow! That’s... good!” I say with a little less enthusiasm than Mom expects. I continue anyway. “So does that mean there’s a diagnosis and treatment plan for her release? And does it affect her release date at all?” 

Mom seems to brush past the unenthusiastic response without a problem. She takes a long sip of her coffee before shrugging her shoulders, still smiling.

“I’m not sure, Harps; I didn’t go to the meeting yet!” she says, rolling her eyes jokingly before sliding a piece of banana bread across the island to me. “Were you coming for visitation today? I might reschedule for Wednesday’s visitation hours instead, if not.”

I bite into the banana bread, contemplating whether I should go. I don’t want to trigger anything with her; She might still be upset with me… 

She’s doing really well... that’s everything we want for her. I shouldn’t ruin that.

“I’m not sure,” I say, pulling my phone from the front pocket of my robe. I pretend to scroll down my calendar in search of any reminders. “What time would we need to leave? I can let you know my schedule in an hour or so.” 

Mom purses her lips, probably assuming I don’t want to go because I still feel bad for turning her in.

“We’d have to be at the airport by 11:30,” she says before finishing her coffee and walking the mug to the sink. “Let me know by 10?”

I nod my head, finishing the banana bread and chugging the coffee before rushing off.

Such a big decision, so little time!