Facade of Love (Yvette Scott and Idris Young) novel Chapter 464

Mom stopped in her tracks for just a second but did not turn around. She just kept on walking.

I knew she was still mad at me. It hurt, knowing that every time I saw someone might have been the last. That might have been my final goodbye to her.

Sure, I felt wronged, but I chose that path. There was no turning back then.

Sitting by Dad's grave, I took a few sips of his favorite drink and poured out all the things weighing on my heart. Honestly, who else could I talk to about that stuff but him?

"Dad, I hope you're at peace over there. I'm so sorry to disturb you with my troubles, but I don't know who else to turn to. I might have to head back to the border. You always worried about me, scared I'd take off like I did six years ago, facing death at every turn. Then, what you feared is happening again. However, this time, I'm choosing to go. Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'm not going for fun or running away with some random crowd. I'm going to honor the last wishes of fallen heroes. I know you'd probably say I'm biting off more than I can chew, but I've got to try. My life isn't all that precious, if it ends, so be it."

Talking to myself like that might have seemed silly, but it sure took a weight off my chest.

After a few sips of sake, noticing the crowd of visitors growing in the cemetery, I got up, tidied my clothes, said goodbye to Dad, and walked out of the graveyard.

Mom was still outside, which caught me off guard. She stood there, the picture of serenity, just like she always did, watching me from afar.

I approached her, my eyes brimming with tears, "Mom!"

She looked at me, her face etched with subtle lines of hardship, "How's it going with little Sanchez?" Her voice was free of judgment, just a simple, caring question.

I braced myself for a lecture that never came. Instead, her calmness made the tears roll down my cheeks.

I nodded, my voice rough, "Yeah, I'm getting by."

She nodded, her gaze steady on me. "Little Sanchez mentioned you're not ready to go back to Scott Corporation. Why's that?"

I bit my lip, fighting back tears, and managed to get the words out, "I... I've got other stuff to do."

She just stared at me, not saying a word for what felt like forever.

That silence was freaking me out.

Finally, she asked, "You're still set on heading to the border, aren't you?"

She did not say a word, just gave me a silent nod and drove off.

I watched her car shrink into the distance, a small smile on my face. I had thought she would be mad, maybe even hate me, but she got it. She knew what I had to do.

She was not trying to stop me. She understood my need to do that. Knowing that Alice and Maxwell were there in Lake City to look after her, she was giving me her blessing to chase my own dreams.

I used to think my life would be just like everyone else's: taking over the family business, living comfortably without a care in the world. If I dared to dream a little bigger, I would spend my days with my true love, supporting each other through thick and thin. However, as it turns out, somewhere along the line, my life took a wrong turn into a dead end.

I could not just stay in that lively city, pretending everything was fine. The deaths of Officer Jackson and Mr. Kobe weighed on me like chains I could not shake off.

I have got to do something about it, because even if I try to run, there's no escaping it.

The cemetery's a stone's throw from Lake City, but I took my time getting to the Maxwells' place, taking in every little detail of Lake City. By the time I got there, the sky was smudging into dusk.

That's when I spotted Lucas standing by the neighborhood's parking lot. He was out of his wheelchair, looking sharp in a black suit, his hair done just so, making him stand out like a beacon.