Rot & Romance (Rewriting)

Chapter 86

A nurse was exiting room 209 when Lainey made her way toward the room. Mom, in her own clothes, was sitting on her bed signing papers when she entered.

"Knock, knock," Lainey said, knocking on the door.

Mom raised her head and smiled.

"Elaine, hey!" She eyed her up and down and raised a brow.

"Why in the world is your hair and clothes wet? And whose jacket is that?"

Oh God. Why did I not see this coming?

"Oh . . .uh . . . I-I went up to Tuku Lake."

Mom scoffed and smiled at once.

"You went all the way to Tuku Lake? Near Mount Tamaya?"

And it took all of a few minutes.

"That's where Tuku Lake is," Lainey said, entering the room.

"Wha--" Mom was shaking her head. "What made you decide to go all the way to Tuku Lake?"

Lainey hesitated but caved.

". . . Benjamin."

Mom grinned.

"Benjamin. You mean the boy you're not seeing?"

Lainey sat next to her mother.

"The very same."

"And I'm guessing that's his jacket you're wearing."

"Maybe."

Mom laughed to herself.

"Boy moves to town and the two of you start a cute little romance. It's like something straight out of a movie, I swear. Well, where is he?"

"Out in the hall."

"Tell him he can come in. I won't bite."

Lainey slowly ran a hand through her hair.

"I tried to convince him to come in . . . but I think he's kind of shy. Which I find kind of cute."

"He didn't seem shy when I first met him."

"Well . . . back then we weren't . . . kind of a thing."

Mom clasped her hands together.

"Ha! So you're admitting it!"

Lainey smiled.

"Maybe."

Mom pushed a wet lock of Lainey's hair out of her face.

"You two are going to catch a cold being so cute."

Lainey laughed.

"So, ready to come back home?"

"I'm ready to eat food that I can digest and sleep in a comfortable bed at night, yes." She set the clipboard down on the bed. "Everything alright at home?"

"Nope. Totally burned down the house and forgot to feed that cat." Lainey laughed. "Relax, Mom. You haven't been gone long enough for me to cause mass destruction."

Mom smiled then narrowed her eyes.

"Benjamin hasn't been staying over, has he?"

Lainey flushed.

"What? Oh my God, Mom, no!"

"Just asking," Mom said, raising her hands. "I was your age once."

"Gross," Lainey said, standing and making her way over to the window. The afternoon sun shined brightly through the cloudy sky. "How you feeling?"