The Hazing Tower Read Online Free PDF Page B

outside.”
    She slowly shut the door.
    “Catherine loves you, Paul. And you love her?”
    “Yes— I do, I proposed to her, Nikki. She said— well, she needed some time.”
    “You got into some serious shit in Vegas, are you getting help?”
    “I am, Nikki. I go two times a week, for the gambling addiction. It ruined me, it almost killed me; I won’t go back to that life. But I think it’s too late, for Catherine I mean, it’s too late. And I don’t blame her. That’s why I told her everything. I won’t lie to her, she had to know I am a mess -up.”
    “You’re not a mess-up, Paul. You are a good man. Trust me, I’ve seen the bad ones. You’re human. You made a mistake, and now you are trying to fix it. I am going to have some girl talk with Catherine now.”
    “You would do that for me?” He was totally shocked.
    “Yep. A guy like you deserves a second chance.”
    She walked outside and could tell Catherine was incredibly curious.
    “He proposed?” Nikki asked Catherine.
    She started to cry. “Yes, Nikki. I love him, but you know, he got into trouble— I just don’t know what to do...”
    “Say yes.”
    “What? You mean it?”
    “Tell him yes! He is a good man, Catherine. Trust me.”
    She hugged Nikki again and soaked her with tears.
    Well! What are you waiting for?
    “Now?!”
    “Yes now! Come on girl. You know you love him.”
    The door closed behind Nikki. As she walked down the hall she could hear him yell out, “YES! SHE SAID YES!” She smiled. The doors closed behind her for the last time.

    For last, she saved the most important stop. Her mother. Nikki never told anyone she was her foster mother; to her she was mom. She loved her more than anyone. At the worse time in her life, when her parents had died, Susan took her in. When none of her relatives wanted her, Susan was there.
    Nikki stepped out in front of the hospital center. She started to cry when she walked in. She always did. Early onset Alzheimer’s is what the doctors called it. A horrible thing, worse she thought than even her condition. The past couple of months, Susan didn’t even recognize her. Nikki still visited every week. This would be the last time.
    She walked into the elevator like she had so many times before; she had even memorized the sound of the buzzing lights. She saw Michelle, one of her favorite nurses, as she stepped out on her mother’s floor.
    “Hi! How is she today?”
    “Nikki, so good to see you. You always wanted me to be honest, I remember you saying.”
    Nikki nodded.
    “She is getting worse. I’m sorry, Nikki. She has trouble eating now. She cannot swallow. That happens sometimes near the end.” Michelle took her hand. “Do you want me to go with you?”
    Nikki smiled. “I will be OK. I wanted to thank you. You always went the extra mile for all the patients here. I just—”
    “It’s my job. And you don’t need to thank me.”
    Nikki slowly walked into her mother’s room. Paintings surrounded her. Susan had been an amazing artist. She was drawing something as Nikki walked in.
    “Angelique! You came! I have been waiting for so long.”
    “Mom— it’s me, Nikki.”
    “Come close. They might be listening.” Nikki pulled up a chair and sat right next to her mother.
    “You don’t need to send money anymore. All of Nikki’s school is already paid for. Just like you said she would be, she is at the top of her class. I promise you I will protect her. You know I love her so much. I even learned how to use the revolver you gave me.”
    “It’s Nikki. Mom, who is Angelique?” Nikki started to shake. Her mother talked about guns like someone who had actually used one. No way her mother had even seen a real gun before.
    “Oh— my God! Nikki, you are here. Why are you here?” Her eyes looked alive again. She looked like the mother she remembered. She was back.
    “Mom! Yes, it’s me. You were talking about someone called Angelique. Do you remember?”
    “No, I did? Oh, God, Nikki.