Forgotten Promises (The Promises Series Book 2) by Elle Brooks Read Free Book Online

Well, not about the argument and the crash, I’m guessing, but she knows about the abuse.”
    I’ve never seen my mom look so horrified before. She drops down onto the bed and shakes her head as if she can’t quite comprehend what I’m telling her.
    “She knows ?” she asks in disbelief.
    “Yeah,” I sigh. “A few weeks back, Moira told Ethan that she wasn’t his biological mother. He had no clue. She told him that she had no legal right to ever be able to take him away and that she was too scared of Frank to do anything. That’s why she let it happen.” I feel the prickly cold remains of the tears I didn’t know were falling bite against my cheeks as the air conditioning unit kicks in. I shiver and wipe my face. I want to curl up on the bed and pretend this isn’t happening. My stomach aches, my head throbs and my heart hurts. Mom’s sitting in stunned silence as I climb into the middle of the bed and curl up, hugging my knees into my chest. I tug at the blankets that have been made with military tight precision until they loosen and I can pull them over me. My stitches are wrenching from the awkwardness of my position and I welcome the discomfort; I’d gladly take this pain over the feeling of guilt that is consuming me.
    “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
    “What are you sorry for, honey?” Mom asks moving closer and stroking the hair back from my face.
    “For not telling you, for not telling anyone. I’d convinced myself that I was doing the right thing. That I was protecting him, but all I was doing was protecting Frank. I pushed all the bad things I knew were happening to the back of my mind. Then I made a promise to him that ultimately I knew I could never keep. How could I have done that to him? I’m so angry with myself for staying quiet as long as did.” I sniff and move my glasses so that I can wipe my eyes on the sleeve of my shirt. “I’m confused Mom; I’m mad that I made that promise, but at the same time I’m upset that I broke it too.”
    “Oh, Blair.” She draws her legs up and spoons me as we both lie on my hospital bed sobbing, her for my pain and me for Ethan’s.
     

     
    I wake to the sound of a heated conversation. My mind is hazy from sleep and my eyes feel puffy and hot from crying. I sit up stretching and assess my surroundings. I’m alone in my room, but I can hear the muffled tones of my mom’s voice. I look down at my phone charging at the side of the bed for the time. It’s 5: 27 pm—I’ve only been asleep a little over an hour. I slide ungraciously off the side of the bed like a sloth and drag my feet across the room in a true zombified saunter, following my mom’s voice. The door is cracked slightly, and I stop when I recognize who she’s speaking to—Moira. I debate whether or not to stand and eavesdrop on their conversation but then I think better of it. I don’t like the idea of people listening in on my conversations, and I imagine that they are the same.
    “Mom?” I say loudly, alerting them to the fact that I’m about to interrupt whatever’s going on. I open the door to find them both in tears.
    My stomach plummets to the floor dragging my heart with it as all the different possible scenarios of why they could both be crying flood my thoughts. Ethan’s the only thing that makes sense.
    “What’s wrong? Is it Ethan? Oh, no…it is, isn’t it?” my voice wobbles and both women rush to speak.
    “No!” The pair blurts out in unison, and I almost want to fall in relief. I lean into the door for support and let out an audible sigh.
    “What’s wrong, then? Why are you both crying?” They share a look before standing and ushering me back into the room. “We were talking about Frank,” Moira answers, her voice shaky and quiet.
    “Oh,” is all I can manage to respond.
    She lets out a pained sob as she jiggles her head and looks up towards the ceiling, attempting to control the flow of her tears by biting down on her lip and scrunching her eyes