CHAPTER 53

Maxine P.O.V

The ringing of the phone cut through the silent room and pulled me out of my thoughts. I reached for the screen, seeing my mother's name glowing on the display. A part of me wanted to avoid it, not to be put back into the tension in my life right now, but I could not do that to her. Swiping to answer, I listened as my mom's all-too-familiar voice greeted me so warmly, "Hello, Maxine,”

A small smile tugged my lips despite the storm in my chest. "Mom, how are you?" I replied softly.

"I'm fine, hon. How does it go there?”

I turned to Alph, who lay still sleeping. The gentle rise and fall of his chest were the only movements in the room. His back was to me; it usually was. The sight of him always stirred something in me, something stirring I could not name exactly. Complicated now, after everything that happened.

"Things are good, Mom. Nothing to be concerned about.

"Good, good," she said, her voice full of relief. "How's your brother? Alph?"

I hesitated, looking at him again