The Wannabes by Tammy Coons Read Free Book Online

with
every breath he took. Without a second thought, she ran her fingers over the
tattoo of the grim reaper that resided on his chest. Ryder stirred a little
under her hand. Feeling bold, she ran her fingers down the middle of his chest
and stopped short at the top of the sheet.
    “Mmmm…” Ryder mumbled. Corbin snapped her hand away and
hurried into the bathroom. She looked at her reflection.
    How could she want Ryder so much if she was supposed to
be in love with Rob?
    “Try to figure out the answer to that one, Corbin,” she said
aloud. After her shower, she crept through the living room willing herself not
to look in Ryder’s direction. She grabbed her keys and purse from the table by
the door and then shut the door as quietly as possible.
    She drove to the nursing home and sat in her car for a few
minutes to gather her senses. She took a couple cleansing breaths and then made
her way inside of the home. It was breakfast time so all of the residents were
sitting at their tables.
    “Good morning, Corbin,” Deb, one of the CNAs said. Corbin
gave her a wave. Deb was her absolute favorite person who worked at the home.
She was bubbly and always had a smile on her face. And the fact that she was
always so patient with her mom also made her to the top of Corbin’s list.
    “Where’s mom?’ Corbin asked sitting down.
    “She didn’t want to come out for breakfast today.” Corbin
nodded. It wasn’t the first time. Lately her Mom had been becoming more and
more reclusive.
    “Did someone take her a tray?”
    “Yep, Laurie is in there with her.”
    “Ok thanks.”Corbin stood and walked to her mom’s room. She
stood outside of the door.
    “Mary, you need to eat,” Laurie said from inside.
    “I don’t have to do anything,” her mom replied. “I don’t
know what I did to be put into prison.”
    “Mary, you’re not in prison. You’re at Friendship Manor.”
    “Bullshit,” her mom grumbled.
    Corbin took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
    “Come in,” Laurie called. Corbin plastered on a smile.
    “Good morning, Mom.” She watched her Mom look her up and
down, the vacant look in her eyes saddened Corbin. “How are you today?” Corbin
crouched down next to her.
    “I would be better if someone would tell me why I am in
prison.”
    “Mom, you’re not in prison.” Corbin placed her hand over
hers. Her mom yanked hers away.
    “Don’t touch me, I don’t know who you are.” Corbin’s heart
seized in her chest, she swallowed back some tears.
    “It’s me, Mom. Corbin, your daughter.” She searched her
mom’s face for some kind of recognition.
    “I don’t have any children.” Corbin looked to Laurie who
shrugged and mouthed the words I’m sorry. Corbin looked to the floor then
stood.
    “It is a beautiful morning. Do you want to go for a walk?”
Corbin wiped her eyes. Laurie walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
    “No.”
    “How about doing a puzzle together? You like that.”
    “For the last time, I don’t know you! Warden, will you
please get this person out of my cell?” her mom shouted. Corbin felt as if a
knife had been shoved in her chest. She found it hard to breath.
    “I’ll go, Mom, I will see you next week. I love you.” Corbin
walked back into the hallway. She placed a hand over her eyes and tried to
maintain control. She leaned her back against the wall.
    “Corbin, are you ok?” Deb asked. She was wheeling a resident
down the hall.
    “She’s getting worse. I don’t know if I can keep coming to
see her.”
    “Don’t give up on her. It isn’t her fault.”
    “I know, it just sucks. She used to be so vibrant and
loving.”
    “Keep that Mary in your mind.” Deb gave her a wink and went
on about her job. Corbin pushed off the wall and with a heavy heart left the
nursing home. Her world was crashing around her. The two people she had loved
more than life itself despised her. When she got to her car, she kicked the
driver’s door. Everything was her fault,