Page 12 of Scythe (Devil Daddies MC #2)

T hings at home were not good. All the hassles from her day disappeared as Winnie sat by her mother’s bed, listening to her breathe erratically.

She’d call the doctor tomorrow with her mother’s request to bring in hospice care.

Winnie could understand her decision. Her mother was tired of fighting and didn’t have any more strength.

A tear ran down Winnie’s cheek. She would miss her mother so much.

Evelyn Bradley had a heart of gold. Laughter and happiness had filled their home from Winnie’s earliest memories until her father had died suddenly of a massive heart attack.

Evelyn had focused on comforting memories and the tasks she had to handle.

When her mother met Belinda’s dad, Winnie had celebrated.

So different from her father, Niles Spencer had helped her mother laugh again.

He was jovial and fun-loving at all times.

As a child, Winnie thought his laid-back attitude was due to his blue-collar job.

He hadn’t worn a strangling tie every day to work like her father had.

When Evelyn had fallen ill, Niles had gone to each appointment, treatment, and test. He’d been her rock. In fact, his fatal accident had occurred on his way to pick up a new dose of a trial medication.

With him gone, Winnie had tried hard to bolster her mother’s spirits, but the cancer defeated every treatment.

She’d need to request a leave of absence soon from work.

Winnie knew that would be a huge struggle to get approval from her principal.

Hopefully, her request wouldn’t be one more reason for her to lose her teaching position.

Surely Lorraine wouldn’t be that unkind.

Winnie jumped when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled out the device and checked the screen. Scythe. Seeing his name bolstered her spirits.

I’ve missed you today, Chipmunk. Is everything okay?

I’m sorry. I really wanted to see you, but Mom’s not doing well. I’m at her bedside now.

I’m sorry, Chipmunk. Do you want me to come sit with you?

She hesitated. Having someone with her would support her, but her mother would try to rally and interact with their guest. That would drain more of her energy.

I’d love that, but I need to concentrate on Mom. Can I have a raincheck for another day?

Of course, Little girl. You can have anything you want. Promise me you’ll call if you need me or change your mind. Time doesn’t matter.

I promise. Thanks, Scythe.

Daddy.

Thanks, Daddy.

I’ll text in the morning. Try to get some sleep.

Yes, sir.

Yes, Daddy , he corrected her again.

She smiled at the screen and messaged, Yes, Daddy.

A million kiss emojis floated across her screen.

How had she gotten so lucky to meet him? Winnie laid her cheek on the bed in front of her and closed her eyes. She’d stay here with her mother tonight.

A few hours later, she felt her mother’s hand brush over her hair. Sitting up, Winnie asked, “Are you okay, Mom?”

“Go to bed, Winnie. You need your rest too.” Her mother’s voice was feathery soft.

Winnie stood and grabbed the ice water off the bedside table. “I will, Mom, if you take a drink.”

“Okay, sweetheart.” She sucked the smallest sip from the bendy straw and shook her head that she didn’t want any more. “Go to bed.”

“I’ll see you in the morning, Mom.”

“I love you, Winnie. Thank you for being such an incredible daughter. You know I’m proud of you, right?”

“I know, Mom. I love you. You could write a book on how to be a phenomenal mother.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Go lie down. You need your rest.”

She couldn’t argue with her mother, but she didn’t want to leave her alone, either. Winnie stood and walked out into the hallway. She listened to her mother’s light breathing and decided to go take a shower.

Later, dressed in her worn nightshirt with a faded chipmunk on the front, Winnie peeked into the living room. Did her mother’s breathing sound quieter? Winnie crept into the room and stood by the side of the bed.

Her mother’s chest rose sporadically. The inhales and exhales were so shallow they were hard to distinguish. Winnie’s first thought was to call an ambulance, but that wasn’t what her mother wanted.

Winnie took her mother’s hand and sat by the bed.

She swallowed hard before starting to reminisce aloud about all the fun memories they’d had together over the years.

Making snow ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.

Family vacations and staycations with a plastic pool in the backyard.

Her mother seemed to relax as Winnie talked about how much she treasured having this time with her mother and how much she loved her.

Silently this time, she asked her father and stepfather to come to get her mom to end her suffering.

Dashing away the quiet tears that poured down her cheeks, Winnie ignored her breaking heart to reassure her mother. “Mom, it’s okay. You can stop struggling to stay here. You’ve done so much. It’s okay to rest.”

A peaceful silence settled over the room.

Winnie kept thinking about all the happiness they’d had together.

When she focused on her mother’s face around three in the morning, Winnie knew she was gone.

Fresh tears cascaded down her face. She was comforted that her mother wasn’t battling cancer.

But Winnie struggled to imagine a world without her in it.

Without second-guessing herself, she called Scythe. He answered on the first ring.

“Chipmunk? What’s wrong?”

“She’s gone.”

“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“I’m supposed to do something, but I can’t remember what that is,” she confessed.

“I’m coming, Little girl. We’ll handle this together. Five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

The emergency techs treated her mother with incredible care as the police asked her questions.

Wrapped in her mother’s robe that Scythe had found somewhere, Winnie provided them with copies of her mother’s “do not resuscitate” order, her list of medications and doctors, as well as the signed consent for hospice they hadn’t had time to begin.

Winnie held it together with support from the rough-looking man at her side.

When Belinda got home, the house was quiet.

“What are all the lights on for?” Belinda demanded as she came through the front door.

“Mom’s gone, Belinda.” Winnie broke the news, moving forward to hug her stepsister.

“Why did you send her to the hospital? She didn’t want to go back,” Belinda demanded, waving her hands to fend Winnie off.

“I didn’t, Belinda. I was at her side when she passed.”

“She’s dead? Why didn’t you call?”

“I didn’t know this would happen, Belinda. She’s been bad before but rallied,” Winnie pointed out. Inwardly, she rebuked herself. She should have phoned Belinda. It hadn’t even crossed her mind. She’d focused on her mother and filling the space with good thoughts and energy.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” Belinda wailed. “She told me she loved me yesterday afternoon before I got ready for work. Do you think she knew?”

Winnie nodded. “Yes.”

Belinda walked blindly forward to hug Winnie. The two hadn’t always gotten along well, but this wasn’t the time for petty squabbles.

“What do we do now?” Belinda asked.

“She organized all her arrangements in a folder. We just have to do what she wanted.”

“O—Okay,” Belinda said, stepping away to wipe her tears. “I’m so tired. This is overwhelming.”

“Go to sleep, Belinda. I’ll take care of this,” Winnie assured her.

“Thanks.”

As soon as Belinda’s door closed, Scythe wrapped his arms around Winnie and pulled her close. He held her quietly for a few minutes before directing her. “Go find the folder. Let’s get things in order.”

He made everything easier for her. Scythe even reminded Winnie to call in for a substitute. She texted her bestie, Abby, with the location of her emergency sub plans.

Winnie had just sent the message to Abby when her phone rang. “It’s my principal.” She met Scythe’s gaze, hoping she didn’t look as scared as she felt.

“Hello?”

“I have deleted your request for a substitute and will place another reprimand in your file for using paid time off as a weapon to delay a disciplinary meeting. One more letter in your file will result in you losing your job and receiving a negative recommendation,” Lorraine Oberson announced.

“My mother passed away this morning,” Winnie said dully. Her emotional well was completely empty.

“Right. Bring the death certificate to school, and I’ll get you a sub tomorrow.”

Winnie stared at the phone in disbelief. The woman didn’t believe her? Who would make something like this up?

“What’s going on?” Scythe asked.

“She canceled my sub and won’t arrange for one until I bring a death certificate in to prove I’m telling the truth,” Winnie said to him. She pressed the speaker button on the phone and set it down on the table. Her hand trembled too much to hold it without dropping the device.

“You have an hour to get here,” the principal announced coldly.

Scythe growled. His voice was rough with anger. “Reconsider your decision about the substitute or all your secrets will unravel.”

Winnie panicked. What was he doing? Scythe didn’t understand how vindictive her principal was. She shook her head frantically, mouthing, “Stop!”

“Who is this? Is that supposed to be a threat, Winnie? I’ll start writing that third letter.”

“You will not, Lori,” Scythe told her.

“My name is Lorraine Oberson. Who are you?”

“The man who’s stopping this now. Arrange for a sub, Lori.”

Winnie’s finger hovered over the disconnect button. What on earth was Scythe doing? This was her career. Something in his expression made her trust him. She held her voice, hoping for a miracle.

Silence followed. When she spoke next, Winnie’s principal’s voice came in a stutter. “I—I don’t know what game you’re playing, b—but you can’t th—threaten me.”

“My word is my vow, Lori. If you come after Winnie or harass her in any way, I will turn your life upside down. Call the sub, Lori.”

What did Scythe have on her? She was caving to his pressure.

“I’m reinstituting a substitute for you, Winnie,” the principal said after another pause.

“Make it a good one,” Scythe said firmly and disconnected the call.

“What have you done?” Winnie asked, so anxious she caught herself tugging the side of her hair.

Scythe gently pulled her hands free and held them in his. “Your principal has several secrets she doesn’t want to have publicized. She’s going to leave you alone.”

Winnie stared at him in disbelief. Her mind whirled inside her skull as she tried to understand his words. “What kind of secrets?”

“I will tell you everything later. I don’t think this is the time to deal with this. Do you?”

Winnie’s phone dinged, and she checked the screen. Opening the device, she pulled up her email and skimmed it before meeting Scythe’s gaze again. “My sub confirmation came through. She approved it.”

“You’re going to contact your district’s human resources department later today and set up a leave of absence for the death of a parent,” Scythe told her, “but first, you’re going to go back to bed and rest for a few hours. There’s nothing you can do until the funeral home opens.”

“I’ll never be able to sleep.”

“You will. Come on, Chipmunk.”