Behind the Secrets (Behind the Lives #4) (10 page)

Beth went still, her mother’s words
slapping her in the face more than her hand ever could. “I did nuthin’ wrong.”

“If you think that, my girl, you have a
lot to learn.”

Beth pointed at the passage. “Why can’t
you see what he’s doin’ is wrong?”

Her mother’s face turned red, her eyes
flashing with anger. “You just told your own brother that he wanted to be
sexually abused and assaulted by a monster.
That
is wrong!”

“This is not about Ant; it’s about Corey
being sick.”

Her mother shook her head. “I can’t talk
to you anymore, and I don’t want you back in this house until you apologise to
Corey.”

“Mum!”

“Don’t mum me. You come here, telling me
you’re pregnant with a man who is known to sleep around, yet you judge Corey?
No wonder he didn’t want to tell you. I was just too ignorant to see how
selfish and bigoted you are.”

“Mum, you don’t mean that,” Beth said,
wanting to cry.

“Yes I do, so leave, Beth.”

“You’re s’posed to take me to the
hospital.”

“Now Dante is home, you can get him to
take you.”

“But I want you there.”

“I can’t.” Her mother wiped her eyes.
“Because I’ll be taking my son to see his lovely boyfriend.”

Beth went stiff, not believing her
mother would talk to her like this. “He wuz always your favourite.”

Her mother shook her head. “Don’t try to
guilt-trip me, just leave and, as you drive to the hospital, think about every
horrible thing that has come out of your mouth.”

“I won’t, cos I spoke God’s truth.” Gutted,
Beth turned and headed out of the house, willing herself not to cry, because no
matter what her mother had said: she wasn’t in the wrong,
Corey
was.

8

Corey

Corey’s mother steered her station wagon
into the hospital car park and pulled on the brake. She got out and went to
help Corey out of the front passenger seat. She leaned him against the car and
handed him the crutches. Corey went to move, but she took hold of his face,
stopping him. “You are perfect in every way, baby boy, and if anyone tells you
differently they
are wrong.”

Corey closed his eyes, his heart hurting
over how Beth had acted. He loved Sledge with all his heart, yet she thought
that love was disgusting.

His mother kissed his forehead. “Let’s
go see Sledge; he’ll make you feel better.”

Corey opened his eyes and nodded, still
too upset to speak. On the ride over, his mother had talked continuously, trying
to cheer him up, giving him her support, as well as criticizing and saying she
was disappointed in Beth. He didn’t say a word, just nodded at everything she’d
said, but it didn’t change a thing: his sister said he was
wrong
,
something he’d fought so hard not to think himself.

They walked silently alongside each
other to Middleton’s entrance, the big white building reaching for a clear blue
sky. They headed through the sliding doors and passed the reception desk, where
lilac-clad nurses answered questions. They continued on, the line of yellow
seats filled with patients waiting to been seen by the doctors. They took the
elevator to the third floor and walked down the corridor, Corey keeping his
head low. He looked up as they neared Sledge’s room, his mood lifting at the
thought of seeing his boyfriend. But it plummeted right back down as he entered
the room. Sledge was sitting up in bed, wearing a blue hospital smock. His hard
face was a furious red and his dark eyes blazing. He was swearing at a nurse,
anger and frustration twisting his features.

Corey’s mother rushed forward. “What’s
happening?”

The nurse turned to her, the pudgy
middle-aged woman looking flustered. “He’s refusing to allow me to take him to
the shower. He won’t go unless he can walk there on his own, but he can’t walk that
far without help. He’s also been disturbing the other patients to the point
where we’ve had complaints. The doctor’s talking about moving him to another
unit, where they are better equipped to deal with his condition.”

“What do you mean by
condition
?” Corey
asked, his eyes moving to his boyfriend. Sledge dropped his gaze, avoiding eye
contact with Corey, looking like he was embarrassed.

The nurse continued, “He’s been talking
loudly to himself. When the other patients ask him to be quiet, he becomes verbally
abusive. As a result, the doctor has set an appointment for a psychological
assessment.”

“He’s not crazy,” Corey snapped.

“I didn’t say he was; I just said he
needs an assessment. From what the other patients have said, it sounds like
he’s talking to someone that’s not here. It may be his medication or it could
be from the gunshot wound. At the moment, we’re examining all aspects, because
usually his type of medication doesn’t cause what he’s been doing.”

“But he wuz fine two days ago,” Corey
said. “What’s changed?”

“Nothing’s changed; other than he’s
becoming more verbally abusive. He acts up when you’re not here. He’s also been
causing the physiotherapist trouble, insisting he can do more than his body can
handle.”

“Stop talkin’ ’bout me?!” Sledge snapped.
“Just fuck off; I’m sick of the sight of you.”

Corey turned to Sledge. “You’re sick of
me?” he said, his heart sinking.

Sledge shook his head vigorously. “Hell
no! I meant that fat bitch.”

“Sledge!” Corey’s mother barked. “Apologise.”

“No.”

“If you don’t apologise this instant,
I’ll be taking Corey straight home.”

“But you can’t!”

“I can and I will, unless you learn some
manners pretty fast.”

“But it’s not my fault she’s a bitch.”

“Sledge!” She took hold of Corey’s arm.
“Last warning.”

Sledge pulled a face. “So-
rry
.”

“Not to me, to the nurse. Also, say it
with meaning and less attitude.”

“I can’t if I’m only doin’ it to keep
Corey here. That’s blackmail!”

“
Sledge.
”

He grunted, his eyes spitting venom at
Corey’s mother. But instead of answering back, he turned his dark glare on the
nurse. “I’m sorry for calling you a bitch twice. Happy now?”

Exhaling, the nurse turned to Corey’s
mother. “Thank you. I’ll inform the doctor of what’s happened. Good luck.” She
left the room.

Corey turned to his mother. “Can I be
with Sledge alone for a bit?”

His mother frowned. “As long as you talk
some sense into him, because if he keeps acting this way, I won’t bring you
back.” Her gaze moved to Sledge. “The nurses are here to help you, not to get
insulted. I know what it’s like to have to deal with ungrateful and rude
patients, and I will
not
tolerate seeing you treat anyone like this
again. Do you hear me, Sledge?”

Sledge mumbled under his breath.

“Do. You. Hear. Me?!”

“Yes,” Sledge grunted. “But she—”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. She was
trying to help your ungrateful behind. End of story.”

Sledge cast his eyes down, mumbling:
“Sorry.”

“I wish your apology to the nurse had held
the same sincerity. Now, I will go find her and apologise again for your bad
behaviour.” She turned to Corey. “I’ll make myself scarce for half an hour. If
you need me, call my mobile.”

Corey nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Mum.”

She touched his cheek. “You’re welcome,
sweetie.”

As she left the room, Corey headed over
to Sledge’s side.

Sledge patted the mattress. “Climb onto
the bed.” Unlike his older brothers, Ash and Dante, Sledge was much harsher-looking,
his face rougher and his complexion darker. Sledge had recently found out that
Ash and Dante were cousins, not brothers. Sledge and his twin sister had been
adopted into the family when they were babies, their mother having died shortly
after they were born.

Sledge patted the bed again. “Stop pissing
about and get up here.”

Corey glanced at the neighbouring bed,
where a woman was visiting her husband. The couple were casting sideways glances
at him and Sledge. It made him wonder whether they were disapproving of him
like Beth had or were just wary of Sledge.

“I can’t,” Corey said, refocusing on
Sledge.

“Why not?”

“I can’t climb on the bed, cos of my
moon boot.”

“You did it last week.”

“That wuz in a different ward.”

“What difference does that make?”

“There are people here.”

“So?”

“They’ll see us.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do.”

Sledge’s face hardened. “Are you ashamed
of me?”

“Of course not, I already told ja that,
but you hafta understand that you can’t do certain things in front of other
people.”

“I just wanna hug and kiss you. What’s
so wrong with that?”

Corey’s gaze shot to the man and woman
again, this time noticing their looks were disdainful. He dropped his gaze. “We
just can’t do that here.”

“Then I wanna go home.” Sledge slung his
legs over the side of the bed, looking like he was going to get up.

Corey moved closer. “Don’t, Sledge, you
can’t walk far.”

“Get me a wheelchair, then.”

“You’re not allowed to leave.”

“I’m eighteen, so they can’t stop me.
So, get me a wheelchair.”

“I can’t, I’m on crutches. I can’t push
it.”

Sledge turned his head to the woman
visiting her husband. “Can you get me a wheelchair?”

She ignored him, her gaze now worried.

“Oi!
You
. I asked if you could
get me a wheelchair.”

“I don’t work here,” the lady said, not
looking at Sledge.

“That makes no difference; just get me a
goddamn wheelchair so I can leave.”

“I’ll ask a nurse.” She got up and left
the room.

“I don’t want another fuckin’ nurse,”
Sledge hollered, “just a bloody wheelchair.”

“Sledge, calm down,” Corey said, now
wishing his mum had stayed. He pulled out his mobile phone and dialled her
number.

Sledge’s gaze moved back to Corey. “Who are
you calling?”

“My mum.”

“Get her to get me out of this shithole.
I’ve had it.”

Corey nodded, waiting for his mum to
answer. When she picked up, he spoke quickly, telling her to come straight
back, that Sledge wanted to leave. He hung up, then refocused on Sledge. “We’ll
take you back to my place.”

“Our place, you mean,” Sledge said.

“No, I had to move out cos of my
injuries. I’m back with my parents.”

Sledge’s face fell. “But, I liked that
place. Where’s my sis gone?”

“She’s moved back in with Ash.”

“But, what ’bout my stuff? You can’t
just give up the place without tellin’ me.”

“We were gonna be kicked out anyway. We
couldn’t pay the rent without Naf’s income.”

“But I liked that house,” Sledge said,
looking visibly upset.

Corey placed his crutches against the
bed and leaned in to hug Sledge. Sledge put his good arm around Corey and
hugged him back, making Corey’s heart melt. Sledge had tried to save him from
Ant, now it was his turn to protect Sledge.

“I’ll ask my mum if you can move in with
me,” Corey said.

Sledge pulled back, his frown now
replaced with a look of hope. “Will she let me?”

“Pro’bly,”
it’s just Dad I’m worried
about.
Corey turned his head as his mother returned with the same nurse and
a thirty-something male doctor.

“What’s happened?” she asked.

“Sledge wants to leave,” Corey said.

“That’s not a good idea,” the doctor answered.

“I don’t care, I’m goin’,” Sledge
snapped. “I’m eighteen, so you can’t stop me.”

“I know, but I’m only thinking about
your wellbeing, Mr. Rata.”

“I just can’t take bein’ here another
second. I’m a man, not a baby who needs people undressing me. I also don’t want
some old chick perving at my body, it’s gross.”

“I can assure you the nurses are not
looking at you in that way, but if you’re dead set on leaving, I can’t stop
you.” The doctor turned to Corey’s mother. “Regardless of what happens, Mr.
Rata still needs to attend his physiotherapy sessions, which we can cut down to
three hours a week, just as long as he does some exercises at home. Is that possible?”

She nodded.

“Then, I guess he can leave. Would you
like me to arrange home help for him?”

“My husband won’t allow a stranger into
our house,” she said, “so my son and I will take turns looking after him.”

“Okay, then let’s discharge him.” The
doctor turned to the nurse. “Please get a wheelchair for Mr. Rata.”

She
disappeared, returning a minute later with a wheelchair. The doctor and Corey’s
mother helped Sledge into it. Corey’s mother wheeled Sledge out, while Corey
followed close behind, ecstatic that Sledge was coming home with him.

***

Corey’s mother helped Sledge into the
back of the car, then Corey.

Sledge shifted closer to Corey and
leaned his head against his shoulder. “I missed you.”

Corey smiled. “I missed you too.”

“Will we share a room?’

“No, you can have Beth’s old one,”
Corey’s mother said, climbing into the driver’s seat.

“But, I wanna share one with Corey,”
Sledge retorted.

“His father won’t approve.”

“Stuff him.”

“
Sledge
,” she said, her tone
stern, “you’ll be living under
his
roof, eating
his
food, so you
will
not
be rude to him, and you’ll abide by his rules.”

“But, I wanna sleep in Corey’s bed.”

“You can’t, he needs room because of his
injuries.”

“I won’t bang into him.”

“I said no.”

“This is cos we’re boyfriends, isn’t it?”
Sledge snapped.

“You’re wrong. I wouldn’t allow Beth to
have a boyfriend in her room if she was still living at home, so get that
argument out of your head. You will have your own separate rooms like you did
in your flat.”

“I’ll just go to his bed like I did
there.”

“No, Sledge.”

“Then how can I have sex with him?”

“Sledge!” Corey gasped. “You can’t say
that to my mum.”