Part 19 (1/2)

I pulled away in horror as he cried out. He'd definitely broken his hand. Mom rushed into the room. She took one look at Matt cradling his hand and said, ”I'll get my keys. You need a doctor.”

”I'll take him.” Being around Mom was risky. If Hades wanted to find me, he'd definitely come here. He was giving me two days-and I hoped he meant two days in this time and not in the underworld where time moved more quickly-before he took Mom. As long as I wasn't here when he showed up-which I was sure he would today, hoping he'd find me-she'd be okay for a little while longer.

”I'll go with you. You're both upset, and neither one of you should be driving.”

”Mom, Hades is looking for me. Alex told me last night. He's going to come here, and if he finds me, he'll hurt you to get me to do whatever he wants me to. I can't put you through that. I've hurt enough people already.”

Mom grabbed me by the shoulders. ”None of this is your fault. Do you hear me? None of it.”

If only that were true. Maybe I hadn't asked for any of this, but it still had happened because of me. ”I need to take Matt, and I need to distance myself from you. I love you, Mom, and I already lost you once. If Hades takes you...” I shook my head. ”I'll never forgive myself. Please, let me do this.”

Mom hugged me tight. ”Okay, you can go. Take my car. But don't stay away. I just got you back, and I'm not ready to say goodbye yet.”

”I'll make sure we get some more time together. Somehow.”

Mom released me. ”Keys are in my purse.”

”I love you.” I kissed her cheek before taking Matt's good hand and leading him downstairs.

”I understand if you hate me.”

”I don't hate you. Your mom was right. This isn't your fault.”

Why did everyone have to be so understanding? It made me hate myself more. I grabbed Mom's keys, and we headed out. The hospital wasn't far, so we got to the emergency room in record time, mostly because I wanted to get away from Mom as quickly as possible, but also because Matt coached me on when to s.h.i.+ft.

The receptionist barely looked at us even though we were standing directly in front of her. ”Fill these out and take a seat.”

I took the clipboard and scanned the papers. d.a.m.n it! Matt didn't have insurance. He didn't even have an address anymore, unless we counted Mom's, but I didn't want any bills showing up there. She didn't need to be burdened with Matt's medical expenses.

Matt stared at me and sighed. He tugged me away from the receptionist, not that she'd given us a second thought. She was already deep into her crossword puzzle again. I didn't think anyone still did those.

”We should go. I can't pay for this.”

”We're not leaving. You're hurt. I'm sure you broke something. You're going to need a cast.”

He pointed his good hand at the papers. ”So what, we lie our way though all this? They need to see my insurance card.”

True. Unless he didn't have insurance. No, they overcharged people who didn't have insurance.

I held up a finger to Matt and walked back to the receptionist. ”Excuse me, ma'am.”

”Fill these out and take a seat.” She held out another clipboard without looking up.

”No. I already have one.”

”Then take a seat.”

”There's a problem.” Finally, she looked up at me. I hoped this worked. ”You see, we're from out of town. We got here this morning on the bus, but when we went to use the restrooms at the bus station all our bags were stolen.”

”You left your bags unattended in the bus station.” She said it like we were the two stupidest people on the planet.

”Dumb. I know. But you see, Tyler,” I motioned to Matt, ”got so upset that we'd been robbed that he kind of punched a wooden bench.”

The lady shook her head and rolled her eyes. ”I'd give you a lecture, but I think the broken hand kind of sums it up.”

Matt nodded, playing along.

”All right. Fill out your address and all the information you can. If you don't remember all your insurance information, fill in what you know and leave the rest blank. We'll mail you the bill-I'm a.s.suming you don't have cash on you.”

Matt and I shook our heads.

”Of course not.” She rolled her eyes again. ”We'll mail you the bill, and you can fax us your new insurance card when you get it. We'll bill your insurance at that time, and you can settle your co-pay.”

”Thank you.” I gave her a huge smile and led Matt to some empty chairs. I started filling in bogus information. ”Hmm, Tyler Gross.” I giggled. There were very few times I was able to laugh anymore. I was going to enjoy this.

He groaned. ”Come on. Really?”

”It's funny.” I continued. ”Address. 666 Hades Junction.”

Even Matt laughed at that one.

After I finished filling out the paperwork and turned it back in to the receptionist, who rolled her eyes at me for the third time, we waited while everyone else was called in before Matt. Finally, a woman came into the waiting room.

”Tyler Gross.”

We both turned at the sound of Matt's fake name. Only neither one of us laughed this time. The nurse who'd called Tyler's name...was Matt's mom.

Chapter 22.

I nudged Matt, widening my eyes and nodding in his mother's direction. ”What is she doing here? Amber just...shouldn't she be at home?”

”You didn't read the entire article about Amber, did you?”

No, I hadn't. After I found out it was an aneurysm, I didn't want to know anything else. I shook my head.

”Amber died a month ago.”

A month ago? ”No, that can't be. Hades took her to get back at me.”

”I don't think so, Jodi. Amber used to get these really bad headaches all the time. I can't help thinking she was meant to die when she did.”

”That would mean Hades had me move her.”

Matt balled his good hand into a fist. ”He took her out of Heaven and put her in h.e.l.l to get back at you.”

”Those aren't the terms he uses, but yes. That's exactly what he did.”