SWNOVELS Chapter 2221
"Where's your car?" Rosalynn asked as she glanced at her wristwatch, the silver band catching the light.
"Parking's hard downtown, so I've been cabbing it to work lately," Rose replied with a shrug, a hint of frustration in her voice. Rosalynn checked the time. "Well, it looks like you're crashing here again tonight. Who knows when you'll get that sorted."
A grateful smile spread across Rose's face, though she feigned reluctance. "Oh, I couldn't impose..."
"You coming or not?" Rosalynn cut in, a playful edge to her voice.
Of course, Rose followed. Before her business trip, she had returned to her stark, impersonal apartment from the serene Moonlit Lake, and she was upset about it.d2
But today, Moonlit Lake was unusually quiet.
Paige and her husband had taken their kid to visit Grandma in the hospital.
Hilaria, Cory, and Ivy were out visiting an old friend and wouldn't be back tonight.
Jaime and Jacob had left the lake after the holidays.
So, it was just Rose and Rosalynn for dinner.
Yet, even this small company felt infinitely better than the loneliness of her apartment.
"By the way, Madeleine Winters' condition has improved a lot. She's lucid most of the time now and refuses to see her father and brother. She probably knows they're up to no good," Rose mentioned casually as they ate.
Rosalynn didn't look up. "Do they visit her often?"
Rose shook her head, her expression one of disdain. "Only twice."
After a pause, Rose continued, "Madeleine's mom was overseeing her care after she was admitted to our facility. You wouldn't know, Ms. Tesdal, but working alongside Dr. Penn all these years, I've seen it all. At first, everyone's full of hope and care, wanting the patient to recover. But as the days wear on, that care often wanes."
Rosalynn raised her eyes to meet hers.
Rose went on, "Strictly speaking, mental illness never truly goes away; at best, it's managed. You can be there for one relapse, maybe two, but what about the third, fourth, fifth time? Especially with Madeleine - when she's unwell, she can be violent. Her brother and father have both been hurt by her wielding bats and knives. Her dad once told me she nearly killed him with a kitchen knife. Since then, just the sight of her fills him with dread."
"People have fears. It's understandable," Rosalynn said, her voice calm.
"And you? President Silverman nearly took your life. Are you afraid of him?" Rose blurted out, curiosity overtaking her.
Immediately realizing her boldness, she looked down, flustered.
"I guess I haven't reached the point where my affection has been eroded away," Rosalynn replied thoughtfully. "I can distinguish who wants to harm me from who loves me. So, there's nothing to be afraid of." At her words, Rose's eyes flickered with emotion.
"But don't worry, Dr. Penn knows what he's doing. With his treatment, President Silverman will surely recover!" she assured Rosalynn with conviction.
Rosalynn smiled warmly. "I'll take your word for it."
Rose nodded vigorously.
After dinner, Rosalynn excused herself to rest, leaving Rose to her own devices. Once alone, Rose retreated to the guest room she had stayed in before, collapsing onto the plush bed and gazing up at the French-style ceiling.
She hummed a tune, old and comforting, a lullaby her mother had told her came from her grandmother's hometown. On the rare occasions when her mother was calm and collected, she would hum it to Rose before sleep.
And as Rose hummed, staring at the beautiful patterns above, she thought to herself, 'Mom, I'll be the good girl you wanted me to be. That will make you happy, right?'
Yes, it will make you happy, and everyone else too.