Chapter 12

Devolin

This is it!

I’d waited a lifetime for this. Well, okay, maybe more like a year.

Ten more steps, Dev!

Staring up at the building looming before me, I paused to let it all soak in. Truth is; this newfound reality of mine was a little daunting to say the least. A year ago, I’d have laughed if anyone had told me that this day would come. Things had looked too grim for me to even entertain the thought of where I would be a week, a month, let alone a year later.

Then a miracle happened…

“What is it, baby?” My mother’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “Are you feeling okay? Should we go back—”

“Mom!” A nervous laugh escaped me. “I’m fine. This is just a lot to take in, is all.”

Drawing a deep breath, a relieved look overtook her worried expression. “You’re sure?”

I turned toward my mother, squeezing her hand then met her gaze. “This is just a new step for me. A big one.” The older woman’s expression softened. “Besides, you knew you were going to have to cut the apron strings at some point, Mama.” Holding out my keychain, I jingled the keys to prove my point, but more or less to lighten the mood.

“You look flushed, maybe I should call Janet and tell her—”

“Mom, I’m fine!” I growled, then marched up the building’s steps and punched in the code to the main door, heading straight for the elevator. I was so tired of being treated like an invalid. It was why I’d insisted on my own place if I were ever to be discharged from the hospital. When I got word from the doctor that I was being released, I’d had my mother check out a few places for me before settling on this one.

The older woman was hot on my heels. “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady!”

Snickering as she entered the lift, I said, “‘Young lady’, Mom?” My finger hit the button that would take us to the twelfth floor. “I’m twenty-five.” Kissing her cheek, I offered her a smile of reassurance, just as the doors delivered us to our destination. Finding apartment 1203, I turned to my mother again, sure that my excitement was written clearly across my face. “Now, can I please take a look around and see what you’ve done to this place?”

I took the time to peruse what my mother had done with my new apartment. The woman had gone completely OCD on my new digs, but it had been that way since I was eight. Everything had to be clean. Sterile. But there was a mountain of reasons as to the why, and because my mother had been my rock throughout my life, I’d forgive her anything.

With my apartment unpacked for me, I headed toward the one room that beckoned my attention. The one room that had been left untouched at my request. Mostly.

Adrenalin pumped through my veins, my excited smile becoming larger. When the knob turned, granting me access to my home office, I couldn’t suppress my gasp.

“Oh, Mom!” I whispered as I surveyed the room.

Floor-to-ceiling windows had their curtains pushed to the side; a massive U-shaped desk was up against them, the bottom of the U up against the wall where I envisioned positioning my three large monitors. A TV was mounted to the wall above that. Space for my two laptops, which were still with Brycen, was set up by the windows, where I’d be able to take in the view of the city skyline at night. Against the wall, by the room’s entrance, was a five-drawer filing cabinet that matched my desk. A massive vase of fresh sunflowers sat atop it, with what remained of Dalton’s unspent lilies and roses. The reminder of the man himself made my pulse quicken. Beside the flowers sat a photograph of my mother and me, taken the week before, in the hospital gardens. It was the day I’d received the good news that the stem cell treatment for my anemia was finally working and that I’d most likely be able to go home soon.

The rest of my office space contained my favorite couch and throw pillows, which matched the abstract paintings that covered the other two walls that would have been otherwise bare.

As soon as I sensed my mother’s presence, I turned toward her, utterly speechless.

“Do you like it?”

My voice shook as I said, “This is too much.”

Mom cleared her throat, an indication that she was feeling as emotional as I was. “It’s never too much, baby girl. You deserve to know how proud I am of the difference you make in the world.”

I groaned, cupping my forehead, feeling overwhelmed. “Mom, I’m just some computer geek.”

“You’re more than that, and you know it.” She sighed. “I may not understand this draw you have to this technology thing, but you have a gift, baby. You’re smart, you’re creative—”

“I’m a sickly recluse that thrives on puzzles,” I mumbled.

“Devolin Payton Taylor!”

“What?” I shrugged. “It’s true.”

“You’re beautiful, baby girl, and someone’s going to see that someday.” I didn’t bother to say anything, knowing all too well that I’d be inciting a never-ending dispute with the woman. God forbid she found out anything about Dalton and his visits. The flowers had caused more than enough of a ruckus. “Just promise me something.”

Cue the internal groan. “And what’s that?”

“Promise me that now that you’re on your own, you won’t stay cooped up in this new office of yours. Promise me that you’ll find some semblance of normalcy. Go out, make some new friends—”

“I have friends!” That defensive tone did nothing to convince even myself, to say nothing of convincing my mother.

“I’m talking about real people, with real faces, in a social setting where you’re in the same room. Not those cartoon characters on your screen.”

I didn’t blame her for saying something like that. Still, it burned because ultimately she was right.

“They’re called avatars, Mom.”

My mother’s determined gaze caught mine and held it. “Promise me, Devolin.”

Giving her a nod, I added, “I’ll try.”

She snorted. “I suppose I’ll take that. Meanwhile, I’ll leave you to it.” She proceeded to the hallway, toward the apartment’s door, with me following behind her. “I didn’t want to mess with all those wires of yours and screw up your system, and since you didn’t want anyone tinkering with your stuff, I let it be.”

“Mom.” I grabbed the older woman’s hand. “I love it. And you.”

“I know you’ll ignore me if I tell you to take it easy and that your cyber world can wait until tomorrow, but please don’t work too much tonight. Get some rest. And call me tomorrow to let me know that you’re okay.”

Ever the worrisome mother.

“I will, Mom. Go have yourself the weekend with the girls you’ve been planning.” For more than a year was left unsaid as I hugged her. “Love you.”

“Love you, baby girl. You’ll call if—”

“Promise, Mama.”

Just like that, I was alone. In my own apartment, no less!