Dark Mind (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Goldstein

him.
    Not being used to this type of greeting, Cole awkwardly took her hand and shook it. “Hi Mrs… A-amy’s mom.” He cleared his throat and lost eye contact, looking to Amy for support.
    “You can call me Amy’s mom. Or Mrs. Brown works too. Nice to meet you.”
    “He’s staying with his aunt for a little while,” Amy chimed in before Cole had a chance to stutter an awkward response. “Can I go over his house tonight?”
    “Of course,” Mrs. Brown said. “Have you cleared it with her yet?”
    “No. She's over here,” Amy said as she grabbed her mother’s hand and pulled her in Beth’s direction.
    Cole hurried ahead to lead the way.
    “Oh there you are,” Beth grumbled when he opened the door. “What took you so…” Just then she noticed Amy and her mother. “Who’s this?”
    “Hi, I’m Mrs. Brown.” Mrs. Brown extended a hand into the car.
    Beth looked down at the hand and then up at Mrs. Brown’s face, with an incredulous look.
    Mrs. Brown quickly retracted her hand. “Er-uh sorry for being so abrupt. This is Amy, my daughter. She wants to come over to your house tonight after dinner. Would that be all right with you? I can drop her off and pick her up.” She paused, studying Beth’s face, and looking completely lost.
    Beth stared back, watching the exasperation growing on Mrs. Brown’s face. She chuckled softly, but showed no other sign of life.
    Mrs. Brown’s chest heaved in a frustrated sigh as she looked down at Amy. “Amy I don’t think…”
    “It’ll be fine,” Beth cut her off.
    Startled, Mrs. Brown took a second to recover. “Oh. That’s great!”
    “Yeah, what time are you gonna drop her off?” Beth said.
    “How’s around seven? I can come back in a few hours to get her.”
    “Sure, sure that’s fine. Pick her up at 9 sharp.” Beth’s eyes panned slowly from Mrs. Brown to Amy and lastly to Cole. “Come on Cole. Let’s get going.”
    Cole quietly got in the car. He couldn’t say anything. He knew if he opened his mouth, nothing good could come of it. He hated his aunt right now with a passion. Why? Why was she like this? Couldn’t she be normal just this once? For him?
    “What’s your address?” Mrs. Brown said. “Wouldn’t want you to drive away before you gave it to me. How would I ever find it?” She stifled a laugh.
    Beth looked at her deadpan. “Fourteen thirty Rockview Road. What do you do for a living, Mrs. Brown?”
    “Oh, uh, I’m a lawyer.”
    “Thought so,” Beth said. “Guess I’ll be seeing you later.”
    “Um, yeah. Bye. Nice meeting you.”
    “Byeee,” Amy piped up. “See you later.”
    “Bye,” Cole mumbled, but before it had left his mouth, Beth sped away from the curb, leaving Amy and her mother standing there bewildered.
    “Some piece of work that one is. Poor girl doesn’t have a chance.”
    “Uh-huh,” Cole said, containing his anger. He had never liked Beth , but he could not remember despising her as he did now. No wonder you're alone. He doubted he would see Amy that night, and wondered if he would ever talk to her again. He wouldn’t have been surprised if her mother forbade her from being friends with him.
    “Can we go to see Mom?” Cole asked.
    “I guess so,” Beth said, “but I’m not sure how awake she’ll be.”
    Back at the hospital, they found their own way to Meredith's room, as Beth mumbled to herself that at least they didn't have to deal with idiots again. In line with Beth’s prediction, Meredith was barely awake.
    Cole felt sick as he approached her bed. “Mom?”
    “Oh… Hey Cole… How are you?” Her voice was quiet and filled with exhaustion. She methodically turned her head a few inches so she could see him.
    “I’m good. Why are you so tired? I thought you were getting better.”
    “Oh I am. Don’t worry. It’s just all these drugs they insist on giving me. I’ll be up and about before you know it.” She gave a weak smile and closed her eyes.
    “I have some good news,” Cole