Chapter 151
ASHER
I wasn’t prepared for that. I didn’t expect Ashton to make that move or pose the question about our biological parents without running it by the rest of us first. My mouth dries up as the deafening silence in the room wears on.
Father is a rare image of shock and terror as his chest heaves with breath.
"What did you say?" He rasps.
Before Ashton can say anything in reply, we hear a slight whimper and tip our heads to find mother atop the staircase. She looks pale and disheveled in her night clothes. Pain radiates from her bloodshot eyes. Her grip tightens on the railing as she watches us, her lips hanging open. Her eyes rake us, a withering look blanketing her face.
"Mom?" Ashal whispers. Did she hear Ashton’s question too? Is that why it appears like her soul has ditched her body?
She takes one step, misses and trips.
"MOM!" Ashal skips over the couch and reaches her before the rest of us. Thankfully, her firm grip on the rail didn’t break. She hangs on for dear life until Ashal convinces her to let him help her up.
"It’s okay, mom. I’ve got you. You’re okay." He pulls her to his chest where she sobs softly. My heart clenches tightly in my chest, as I am sure everyone else’s does.
"You’re b-back." She skims his face with her hands
Father tries to go for her hand but she tucks it away from him, clinging to her son instead. Her walls have been up since Josh’s paternity was exposed. I don’t think she’s spoken a word to father ever since we saw the news. We haven’t eaten collectively as a family since then. Everything has changed.