A Previous Selection

Chapter Twenty

"Thanks, Mom. People have been telling me this, but I feel like I just needed to hear it from you."

"Anytime, sweetie. Now, I have to go. The doctors need to do another checkup."

"Okay. I'll try and snag another phone call tomorrow."

"That would be great if you could. I miss hearing your voice every day."

"Same here."

"Bye, sweetie."

"Bye, Mom."

She hangs up, and I continue to sit in the same spot for a few seconds longer before getting up and opening my door. I hand the phone to Evelynn with a smile.

"Thank you so much," I say.

"No problem, Lady Wren. How is your mother doing?" she asks.

"Better. It looks like she's going to make a full recovery."

"That's wonderful."

"Yes. It is."

------------------ Time Lapse ------------------

My hands fly over the keys of the piano as I start playing the fifth song in a row without stopping. I close my eyes and let the music flow over me and out of me. I let all of the fear that I've kept inside these last few days while waiting on news of Mom's health melt away. I let the music swallow me whole and transport me back to the living room of our tiny home.

While I continue to play, I picture myself back with my family, sitting at the piano crammed in the corner of our living room. The twins running around the house. Mom right after them making sure they're not breaking anything. Kylee crying. Ryker trying to stop the crying. Logynn complaining about how loud the boys are. Dad trying to explain to her that they're just kids and need to let their energy out somehow. Airabella sitting off to the side, watching the chaos of our house unfold with a smile.

It's loud and packed with people, but it's home. A home full of love. A home that I dearly miss.

Yes, I love being here at the palace.

I love the food and the gardens and the beds.

And more importantly, I love being around Addison and Oliver and Cameron.

But the palace doesn't have my family.

And I'm starting to really, really miss them.

Oh, what I would give to see them just for a second.

The song comes to an end, and the sound of clapping causes me to open my eyes. I turn to see Addison and Oliver standing at the door.

"Oh, hey, you two."

"Hey, Wren!"

Oliver runs over to me and hugs me. I can't help but smile as I hug him back.

"What have you guys been up to?" I ask.

"Oliver was looking for you, so I helped him find you," Addison says as she walks up to us. "You know, it's not fair that you're good at playing the piano AND singing."

"And the violin and cello."

"Oh, way to be humble," she says, and I laugh.

"Sorry."

"So how's your mom? You got to talk to her this morning, right?" 

"I did. And she's doing good. She's getting better, slowly, but the doctors said that she should be completely fine within the next couple of days."