Page 80 of Wrap Around

"Oh, no. How bad is it?"

"I've been trying to figure that out all morning. But I think it must be bad, because they've been calling non-stop. It started last night, and then this morning I finally broke and answered it."

"What did they say?"

"That Mama passed out in a grocery store and was admitted to East Regional."

"Shit."

"They called to ask me to come home and help take care of her."

The sentence hangs in the air. My stomach twists. Lily's gaze is off camera, distant, and full of turmoil. I can already tell she's going to go. Most likely, it wasn't even a decision that had to be made. It's a role that she was indoctrinated into from birth—the caretaker. The one that always sacrifices herself for the needs of others, who never questions or speaks up or thinks for herself. It's a mold Lily never fit into and was one reason we fought so hard to claw our way out of there. Lily struggled with her identity just as much as I did growing up. It’s why we banded together.

"Lily…" I say gently, hoping my tone conveys the worry I feel and not any bit of judgment.

"I know, it's probably a terrible idea and it'll be awful. But I can'tnot go, Silas. She's my mother. What kind of daughter—what kind of person—would I be if I didn't go to her?"

I'd be willing to bet those were the exact words that old venomous bitch Paula said to her to get her in this state. Lily doesn't want to go, that much is clear. But she will, out of a sense of duty to her family. I'll be damned if I'm going to let them sink their claws into her.

"How soon do you have to go? After tomorrow, I've only got three more games. I could go with you in a week."

"I've already got us packed and tickets booked to fly out this afternoon."

I sigh heavily and give her a worried look. "I don't like it."

"Me neither. But I can handle it. Hopefully, it'll all be done with before you even have to worry about coming down."

I seriously doubt that, but of course I don't say it out loud.

"Does Gideon know?"

"Yeah, he's kind of pissed at me right now."

"Join the club."

After I get off the video chat with Lily, I pull out my phone and text Gideon again.

ME: I just talked to Lily.

The phone rings before I can send off another text.

"Hey."

"Hey, yourself."

"Lily told you our dad wants her to come home and take care of mom?"

"Yeah, she told me. I don't like it, but I understand why she feels she has to go."

He scoffs. "I'd bet anything he expects her to take care of him just as much as whatever's wrong with Mama."

"So I guess you don't have any more details than she does?"

"Less probably," he says. "It's not like anyone thought to call me about it. Sister Paula won't so much as take my calls."

"Why wouldn't she take your calls?"

"Oh, I don't know, because I abandoned the church and my birthright as a follower of Christ to engage in a spiritually corruptive lifestyle that encourages me to break the Sabbath. Or because I'm a sodomite. Take your pick, although it's likely a little of column A, little of column B."