Temptation | COMPLETED

Chapter 25

"Donna told me Noah caused quite a scene in your room last night." Mom said as she wheeled me down to the car.

"Yeah." I said emotionlessly.

"What-"

"Courtney!" I hear someone yell from inside.

When I turn my head towards the hospital doors, I see Donna running towards us with a bag in her hands.

"I almost forgot to give you this." She pants as she hands me the bag.

When I open it, my hand flies up to my mouth. Inside the bag is my little girls hat, mittens, and the blanket she was wrapped in.

"Thank you so much." I utter breathlessly as I reach in and touch the items with the tips of my fingers.

"No problem. The nurses also made something for you." She says as she hands me a picture frame.

The frame has a paper with two tiny footprints on it. The word Aurora is printed in a beautiful cursive font on the top. I was completely mesmerized by the gift until a teardrop landed on the clear glass of the picture frame, bringing me back to reality.

"Please thank them for me." I cry as I hug the frame to my chest, feeling mom put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I will." Donna smiles at me before turning and walking away.

"Donna!" I call to get her attention, making her turn around. "Thank you. For everything."

"You're welcome." She replies as she walks back into the hospital.

"That was very nice of them." Mom says as she opens the car door for me.

I get in silently, waiting until the door closes to pull out the little pink blanket that's in the bag. I hold it up to my nose and inhale.

It smells just like her.

I hold the blanket close to my chest as I let out a few more tears. When mom got back into the car, she gives me a sympathetic look before pulling off.

"I spoke to Corinne this morning." She says hesitantly as she glances at me, waiting for my reply.

I don't give her one.

"She said Noah was arrested last night for assaulting a peace officer." She continues.

I remain silent.

"Luckily the sherif was sympathetic to the situation and let him off with a warning." She kept talking even though I wasn't giving her any responses.

"Paperwork had to be filled out when they took him in, and under next of kin he listed-"

"Mom." I warn her.

"When were you going to tell us you got married?" She sighs.

"It doesn't matter." I tell her.

"Yes it does." She scoffs.

"No. It doesn't. It's over, mom. We're through." I raise my voice as I stare out of my window.

"Courtney-"

"Mom, you don't know the whole story. Please respect that." I say, my tone making it clear that the conversation was over.

I was trying to keep my temper under control with her, because she truly didn't know the whole story. I wasn't ready to tell her, or anyone else.

"Alright. I know you'll tell me when you're ready." She smiles at me.

When we pull up to the house, I get out of the car and begin to walk towards the door, much to my mothers dismay. After assuring her that I could, in fact, walk on my own she throws her hands up in surrender.