Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 29

Her irritation bubbled over, and she snapped at Celestine, "Mom, either show up or don't bother at all! You're so annoying! You bring soup now, but my brother and Miss Sinclair are already fine!"

If only Mom had come sooner, she could have taken care of her brother! And then maybe Miss Sinclair wouldn't be monopolized!

"Celly, kids say things they don't mean. Don't take it to heart." Joanna bit her lip, feigning concern as she tried to smooth things over.

Celestine just smiled, unfazed. "Are you all finished?"

Before anyone could answer, she pressed the button for the tenth floor with deliberate force.

The elevator doors slid shut almost immediately.

Their shocked faces vanished from view in an instant.

Celestine exhaled slowly.

Much quieter now.

She made her way to the hospital room and knocked, but there was no response from inside.

After waiting a moment and confirming no one was there, Celestine sent Gideon a message.

[Celestine]: Something came up. The door wasn't locked, so I'm waiting inside. Be back soon.

Out of habit and courtesy, Celestine took a seat on the bench just outside the door.

With nothing else to do, her mind drifted back to the scene she'd just stumbled upon.

Raymond's fever should have broken by now; he didn't look nearly as sick as he did in the photos.

She remembered when he was three and had a similar high fever that lasted a week.

She'd been terrified, convinced her little boy would be left with lasting damage. She cried for days.

Modern medicine hadn't helped, so she'd turned to superstition.

She trekked out to the countryside chapel, praying at every step and begging for a charm to keep Raymond safe.

Maybe it was just her desperate hope, but not long after, his fever finally broke.

Later, her daughter accidentally let slip the truth: Raymond, not wanting to go to preschool, had snuck out of bed during the night and doused himself with cold water.

He'd learned that "brilliant trick" from Joanna—her favorite way to skip school.

Looking back, Celestine couldn't help but feel a bit foolish.

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