Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
The poor kid. She had come out of her coma but the one-time Mason was able to visit her in the hospital, she cried hysterically. The nurse informed him the poor girl was terrified of men and wouldn’t even let any of the male doctors near her.
It would be a while before she could talk to anyone about what happened during the fire and the night two years before. He wished he could do something for her.
“Dad, are you listening?” Ben demanded.
Mason shook his head, clearing all other thoughts before turning to his son. “What is it, champ?
“Rita made cookies. Can I have some?”
Mason looked up to see the nurse standing in the room with a tray of cookies.
“Sure. Knock yourself out.”
“Cool.”
“I’ll take the little scamp to the kitchen to get him a glass of milk.” Rita held the tray out. “Would you like some, Mr. Collins?”
“No, thanks.”
“Mrs. Collins?”
The older woman shook her head.
“Okay. We’ll be in the kitchen and you two can have a little chat.” Rita smiled at them both before exiting the room with Ben eagerly following.
Once Ben and Rita left the room, there was complete silence. His mother shot him a quick glance, then turned her head away.
“Mom, you can’t keep ignoring me like this.”
His mother didn’t say anything. She examined her nails.
Mason sighed. He got up and walked over to sit beside her.
“Please look at me,” he pleaded. Mason reached over to take her hand in his. How was he ever going to win her forgiveness?
She snatched it away and focused angry eyes on him. “How could you? Your poor father would be rolling in his grave.” The raw hurt in her voice and eyes pierced him to the core. He wished that he could take her in his arms to comfort her, but he didn’t think she was ready for that.
“Mom, you have no idea how sorry I am for what’s been done. I know it doesn’t change anything, but you have my heartfelt apologies nonetheless. I’m trying to make amends the best that I can.”
“What do you know about having a heart? Do you think by putting me in this fancy place you can make up for what you did? I had an active social life and friends until you put me in that awful place. You made them think I was crazy. The orderlies stole from me, and a nurse smacked me. I was never treated so shabbily in my life. When I told you and begged you to take me away from that place, you wouldn’t.” She started to cry.
Mason touched her shoulder, but she flinched away. He felt sad for her and incensed at the man she had given birth to. How could anyone treat their mother like this? Helen Collins had every right to be bitter. The pain she must have endured after her husband’s death was tragic, and her son hadn’t helped.
Rita rushed out of the kitchen in alarm. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, we just need a moment. If you don’t mind keeping Ben occupied in the kitchen for a few more minutes, I would really appreciate it.” Mason smiled at her reassuringly.
“Sure.” She threw a questioning look at his mother, who nodded in agreement.
Once Rita was gone again, Mason handed her a tissue from the coffee table.
Helen wiped her eyes. “You know, I really only have myself to blame for what you became. I guess I have to live with it, but I don’t have to like it.” She turned away again.
“Why do you blame yourself?”
“Your father and I gave you everything you wanted; you never had to work for anything. We always turned a blind eye when you got into trouble, paid for your girlfriends’ abortions, and bribed teachers to pass you. You never learned to be a responsible adult because we let you get away with everything. We enabled you to become the monster you are.”
Mason didn’t know what to say. Maybe the Collins’s were partially responsible for their son’s behavior, but ultimately it was up the individual to shape their own destiny.
He suddenly realized that Helen Collins wasn’t as angry at him as she was with herself. “Mom, please don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault or Dad’s, it’s mine. You’re right. Putting you in this place doesn’t change anything, but I would like to start over with you. I want to be the son you’ve always wanted, someone you can be proud of.”
“You say that now, but how can I open my heart to you again when you’ve let me down so many times before?” she asked with pain-filled eyes.
“You’ll just have to learn to trust me again. I know it’s asking a lot and I know I’ve treated you terribly, but I’ve changed. I want you to be in my life, and I want you to be in Ben’s life…and any other children I may have.”