All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen Read Free Book Online

intentions were in the right place.
    Liv leaned her head on Mom’s shoulder. “Those women were wrong. I get a daily reminder of how big your heart is when you’re making sure I’m taking my pills, using my hand sanitizer, and eating healthy.”
    Mom kissed her forehead. “Thank you for that.”
    They continued looking through the photo album, and here and there, Mom would make comments about the pictures.
    One photo near the end of the album showed Mom, side profile, stomach protruding, Dad’s hand on her belly. The picture had been torn apart and taped back together.
    “Why’s this picture like that?” Liv asked.
    Tears filled Mom’s eyes. “The doctor told me…” Mom threw her arms around her. “I have you. They said I couldn’t have a baby, but I have you.”
    When Mom sat back a minute later, her lashes were wet and clumped together; her nose and eyes were red. “Back in those days we had to go somewhere to get our photos developed, but now everything’s digital.” She closed the book. “All of our digital pictures were saved on our old computer. We should’ve backed them up, but we didn’t, and when the computer died… All the pictures of you growing up are gone. I’m so sorry.”
    It all made sense now. This was why Mom had gotten so upset when she asked to see pictures. She patted Mom’s hand. “It’s okay. Like you’re always saying, the past is the past. From now on, I’m just going to focus on the future.”
    But as the words came out of her mouth, cold filled her entire body, like something didn’t want her to let go of the past. She got a flash of her younger self. A camera was aimed at her and she was smiling, telling whoever was taking the picture to hurry it up already. Then a twinge of pain shot through her heart, more like a memory of the ache she’d felt that day while her picture was being taken. As if in a dream, she watched herself crumple to the tile floor of an unfamiliar kitchen, felt everything inside of her aching, unable to catch her breath, the thought that this time she wasn’t going to make it to the hospital echoing through her mind.

7
    Liv sat in the empty classroom, math book open on the desk in front of her, tapping her pencil to her lip as she worked on the problems. Going home meant dealing with Mom’s foul mood and a long list of chores, so the only way she could get her homework done was to stay after school.
    As she moved to write her answer, the silver charm bracelet on her wrist caught the light. She lifted her arm and studied the large heart. J + L was engraved on the front.
    Her nails were fake and French-tipped and her arms were toned and tan. She wore a lacy top that showed cleavage—she actually had quite a bit of it somehow—and tight jeans with rhinestones on the pocket. She shifted forward and her bangs fell into her face. Bangs that were pale blond.
    Looking around, she noticed that the chairs attached to the desks were blue instead of maroon-colored, which wasn’t right. Plus they looked beat up and old, their surfaces riddled with pockmarks and ink.
    Liv experienced that same feeling she got when she immersed herself in the tub, everything muted yet warm. Her cell phone rang, pulling her out of her daze. She took it from her pocket and stared at the pink floral covering. The name Courtney flashed across the display. She tossed her pencil on her book and answered.
    “Where are you?” Courtney asked. “The girls and I are heading to the mall. We might even catch a movie later.”
    Under no circumstances would she tell her friend she was hiding out at school, studying math. “I can’t tonight. I’ve got to…pick up an extra shift.”
    “You’re always at that damn restaurant. Can’t you take a night off?”
    “You know how it is,” Liv said, even though Courtney didn’t. Not really. Liv was careful not to let any of her friends see what her real life was like.
    “Fine. See you tomorrow at school. You won’t be too busy for me