Chapter 35

Thirty-Five

Isla

I wasn’t prepared for all the recovery that would be ahead of me. It turned out that Kyle had broken my clavicle and ankle. That, along with the brain trauma, left me unable to do much.

Of course, in Armstrong family fashion, I was moved into their parents’ house. They never left me alone, rotating shifts. I found myself growing closer and closer to Nora and Frank.

One day, to my astonishment, my mother showed up at the house. I was on the back porch when Nora came out and asked if I wanted to see her. I decided I might as well. I wasn’t running or playing the victim any longer.

My mother came around to the back porch, holding roses and chocolate. I didn’t move to take them.

“Please, just hear me out, sweetie,” she said.

I crossed my arms and just looked at her.

She put the roses and chocolate down on the little table next to me and looked forlorn. “I am so sorry about what happened to you.”

I still didn’t speak.

“And,” she said, pushing her hair back, “I wanted to apologize for … everything.”

This was unbelievable, but I was listening.

“I shouldn’t have …” Her face fell, and she shook her head. “I shouldn’t have been the way I am. I should never have defended your father. When I heard about what happened to you because of Kyle, I was so mad. And then I realized that of course that would have happened; that’s what you witnessed in our home. That’s what I was telling you that your father should be able to do.” She placed her hand over mine. “Can you ever forgive me?” She began crying.

Anger filled me, and I wanted to tell her about all of the ways she’d hurt me, but then something else rose up in my chest. Compassion.

I put my hand over hers. “It’s … okay.”

She sobbed even harder and fell into my arms. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry!”

I held her and started to tear up. If we could mend fences, maybe I could really heal from all of this.