Chapter 127
Kelly said softly, “Theo, you have no idea how scary your mom was yesterday. After your allergic reaction, there was a doctor on site ready to give you emergency treatment, but your mom stopped him. She insisted on using that spray you carry.”
“The spray?” Theo blinked in confusion. “But I didn’t have it on me anymore.”
Kelly nodded. “I know. But your mom didn’t believe that. She was desperate to find it…”
Her gaze fell on the boy. She feigned guilt, and her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. “Theo, I’m so sorry. I broke the spray
It was an accident. But if your mom finds out, she’s going to hate me. She might not even let me see you again.”
Theo said, “Then I’ll make sure she doesn’t find out, ever. Don’t worry, Kelly. I won’t tell her.”
Kelly’s face lit up with a smile through her tears. “Great. This will be our little secret, okay?”
Theo got to thinking, ‘Just the two of us? So even Dad can’t know? Well, sometimes Dad doesn’t let me eat certain things either. If Dad ever finds out, he might get angry with Kelly too-and then she wouldn’t be able to bring me tasty treats anymore.’
Theo nodded. “Okay.”
Kelly held out her pinky. “Then let’s pinky swear. Whoever tells is a snitch.”
Theo raised his small finger to hook hers. “Whoever tells is a snitch.” (1
After they linked fingers, he asked, “Kelly, what you said earlier… about Mom stopping the doctor… what really happened?”
He hadn’t forgotten.
Kelly hesitated, her expression unsure. “Theo… do you really want to know?”
Theo looked at her seriously. “I do. I want to know.”
She seemed troubled. “Maybe it’s better if we just leave it… It’s all over now anyway.”
But the more she held back, the more curious he became.
“Kelly, please. Just tell me. I won’t say anything.”
She glanced toward the door. Theo caught the look.
“Don’t worry,” he said, lowering his voice. “I won’t tell Mom or Dad.”
Kelly sighed as if worn down. “Alright.”
She pulled out her phone and played a video for him-a clipped version, carefully edited. All the parts that made her look bad had been cut. Only the moments showing Sharon stopping the doctor were left.
The video lasted barely a minute.
By the time it ended, Theo’s eyes were red.
As she studied his reaction, Kelly said, “I heard your mom’s been trying to divorce your dad. And she’s been getting close to that awful kid who bullied you.”
She lowered her voice even more. “Do you think maybe… maybe she doesn’t want you anymore? Maybe she wants that other boy to be her son?”
“Bad mommy!” Theo burst out, his voice sharp and angry. Tears welled in his eyes. “If she doesn’t want me, then I don’t want her either!”
1/2
Kelly looked at his flushed little face, contorted in anger, and the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
Outside the hospital, Carter finally caught up to Sharon. His voice was tight, barely masking his irritation.
“Sharon, how long are you going to keep this up?”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him.
“Carter, don’t tell me after everything, you still think I’m just playing games with you.”
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