Staged: (Oliana Mercer series Book 2)

The Meeting

The breeze off of Ferril Lake was refreshing against my skin, a welcome break from the stagnant heat. I took a sip of my energy drink, delighted with the fact that I was within walking distance of the Denver Museum. What better way for a history buff like me to unwind than by visiting the museum after a meeting with Linda?

Fifteen minutes passed. Still no Linda. I opened my tablet and found comfort in a book about monologues that had been sitting in my library since last winter.

As more time passed, I adjusted my position on the park bench. I was sure that the wood had left an imprint on my butt from sitting so long. What would be more satisfying to me than a museum, was the play rehearsing a few blocks away. Talk about finding a sense of peace.

A car beeped in the distance.

I looked up and watched as Linda shuffled across the grass, headed in my direction.

Linda sat down, placing the oxygen between us. "It sure is a hot one today."

Curiosity crept in. I tried fighting it. Except, I needed to know why she was dying. Was her frailty real or was it a way to manipulate my feelings? "What's making you sick?"

"Small cell lung cancer. There's nothing the doctors can do." Linda blew her nose and looked out at the lake. "I was afraid you didn't want to meet me."

"I didn't. However, I leave in a couple of months. I want this bad part of my life closed."

Linda's shoulder rose and fell as she turned to face me. "Traci and Norman know about our meeting?"

"My parents don't want you near me."

"That's why I waited to contact you. I figured after you turned eighteen, it'd give you a chance to think for yourself without being influenced by people."

"The people you're talking about care for me. If you can't accept that, we're done talking." I gathered my things and stood.

Linda grabbed my arm. Her fingers were like cold blades, slicing the first layer of my skin. "Sit, please."

I wrestled my arm away and remained standing. "What do you want from me?"

"Your forgiveness."

"I don't believe you." My heart raced as I hoped that Linda would prove me wrong. "Why didn't you help my mother?"

"She never came to me. I didn't figure it out until she got pregnant with you."

I crushed my energy drink can and tossed it into the trashcan next to the bench. "I'm so stupid. To think that this visit might be about you telling me the truth."

"I fought for you. But the judge ruled against me."

"Good. You're the last person that should be raising a child. Since I've learned how I came into this world, it has been a struggle to convince myself that I'm not a bad person."

"Listen." Linda removed her oxygen tubes from her nose. "I'm not going to stand by and let you talk about something when you don't even have all the facts."

"The facts. Here's what I learned recently. My birth mother was a teen when she had me and was bounced in and out of mental institutions. Then she killed my uncle, who's my sperm donor because you refused to protect her. Can you tell me that what I just said isn't true?"

"What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry?" Linda's eyes squeezed together as she tried to catch her breath.

My heart raced as I took Linda's hand in mine. "Are you okay? Do you need me to call for help?"

"No." Linda snatched her hand out of mine as if she'd touched a hot stove. She reached into her purse, pulled out an inhaler and took two puffs. "I'm fine."

Now it all made sense as to the reason why I never want to become a mom. My life was so screwed up. The scars of my past were still there like stubborn warts. Even at eighteen, I still remember the dark times about my bio mom leaving me for days on end as she bordered on the edge of crazy. I have tons of questions that will never be answered. Linda certainly can't help me.

"This isn't working. I'm still messed up over this. Talking to you was a mistake. I have to go."

"Don't go. I'm sorry."

"It's too late. I want you out of my life."

I stalked off, got into my car and drove away. For the second and final time, I was done letting Linda lie to me. I was tired of the lies. The meeting with Linda turned out to be a good thing. It helped me decide what my next move would be regarding Brandi and James.