Chapter 42: Powerless

I'm pretty sure I broke almost every driving rule and traffic law out there on that ride home. But luck was with us. The road was quiet. We avoided the police and the Mustang still had an intact transmission by the time I pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition.

Not that I planned to kiss the pavement or anything, but I was happy to be home.

Mom stayed silent on the drive. Aside from the soft crying that eased as Meira hiccupped her way to exhaustion and the hum of the radio, the car was quiet. Even Gram stopped her endless chanting, something I was grateful for.

I managed to get my mother out of the car and into the house. It was so still, it seemed like even the house knew we didn't belong there anymore.

I maneuvered Mom into a chair and turned to Meira and Gram.

"Meira," I said softly, "stay with Mom, okay?"

She climbed up into Mom's lap as I led Gram through the house to her room. She followed, more docile than I had ever seen her. I left her there, sitting on he