Read What a Mother Knows for Free Online Page B

smiled at her daughter’s independent streak, despite the trouble it caused. Her knees were getting stiff, so she took the earring and stood up. The tiny mirrors caught a shaft of light from the hallway and reflected sparkles on the walls. Michelle’s eyes widened to take it all in—the room seemed to be alight with fireflies. That must be why Nikki had kept it. She wasn’t big on jewelry.
    Michelle wanted more sparkles, more fireflies, more of Nikki, so she pulled the drawstring to open the blinds. Beneath the window, she spotted one of Nikki’s posters jammed between the bed and the wall. Michelle couldn’t lean very far without losing her balance, so when she grabbed it, the corner ripped off. The rest of the shiny paper slipped from sight. Michelle held up the corner, but could only read part of the band’s name: house. Playhouse? Dollhouse? Michelle had been quite the rocker in her day, but gave up when it came to the kids’ music. Tyler was into hip-hop, but Nikki preferred obscure indie bands she found on the Internet. This must have been one of them. It seemed vaguely familiar, but then, everything did.
    Headlights lit the window as Drew pulled up. She closed the blinds.
    A few minutes later, he leaned in the doorway. “I saw you.”
    â€œI wasn’t hiding. It’s my house, too.” Her nose twitched at the reek of cigarette smoke, but she let it go. “Will you open those boxes for me?”
    â€œNot today. I picked up your Xanax. Take one and get some rest.”
    Michelle shook her head. “It just doesn’t make sense, Drew. I left her a message last week that I was leaving the hospital and couldn’t wait to see her. There’s no reason for her to be upset anymore.”
    â€œYou hungry?” Drew asked. “I got three flavors of applesauce.”
    â€œStop changing the subject. I’ve been eating solid food for months—and I can smell the burgers you brought home.”
    â€œYour discharge papers say to go easy on the digestion. Those are Animal Style with extra dressing and onions—a far cry from hospital food. Want me to go back for a plain one?”
    â€œNo, stay.” Tyler was coughing in the other room. Drew went to the door. “Wait, I still don’t get why she didn’t come home.” He didn’t turn around. “If it’s not about my injuries, what else could it be? People have car accidents all the time—and Topanga is notorious for being dangerous. Nikki used to complain how long it took to drive the ten miles to the beach. I know I’m foggy on the details, but…”
    Drew turned around slowly. Too slowly.
    She was beginning to feel nauseous.
    â€œThere was more to the accident than you know,” he admitted.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œYou might want to sit down.” Drew pointed to Nikki’s trundle bed.
    Michelle held her ground.
    Drew took a deep breath. “The accident happened after one of Tyler’s games. There was a boy in the car with you. He was killed.”
    Michelle froze. This couldn’t be true. Why was he looking at her like that? A boy was dead? She tasted bile and swallowed it down. She reached out to Drew and her whole body jerked with pain. Wrong arm. “No,” she wailed. The room started to spin.
    He helped her to the trundle bed and sat beside her. When the stars cleared, she thought of all the times she had driven boys home. Michelle hardly understood what it meant for anyone’s life to end, but for someone so young…“Who was it? A teammate?”
    Drew shook his head. “Noah Butler.”
    She thought for a minute, then remembered the lanky college student. “Tyler’s pitching coach?” He nodded.
    â€œOh my god.”
    A few minutes ago, she’d feared the worst for her daughter and it was unbearable. Now this—it was hard to comprehend. She took a deep breath and tried to