Smothered(A Gripping Domestic Thriller With An Astonishing Twist)

As Kaden arrived at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital close to six hours later, he walked through the sliding doors of the Emergency Department’s waiting room, scanning the bustling lobby for any sign of Lila. Nurses in colorful scrubs dashed past him, and the hum of chatter filled the air. Approaching the reception desk, he asked the attendant about Florence Sherman's whereabouts, only to be met with a puzzled look.

“I'm sorry, sir, I don't see anyone by that name in our system,” the receptionist informed him, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Disheartened but determined, Kaden thanked her and swiftly exited the hospital, his mind racing with worry. He knew he had to find Lila, no matter what. Racking his brain as he got back into the car, Kaden rode around to the main entrance of the hospital, intending to speak to someone there to see if perhaps Lila had taken her mother home already. That would explain Florence’s name not coming up in their system. As he slowly drove past the main entrance, he spotted a familiar figure emerging from the building.

It was Lila.

Relief washed over him at the sight of her, but it quickly dissipated as he noticed the troubled expression etched on her pretty face. Tooting the horn to signal his arrival, he waited for her to notice him waving at her and approach. But as she drew nearer, he couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension gnawing at him.

“Lila!” Kaden called out, his voice touched with affection, but to his surprise, she didn't rush towards him with open arms, and her expression shifted to a cross between horror and fear. Instead, she looked over her shoulder towards the hospital building, her face fraught with unease. She seemed to scan the surroundings anxiously, as though worried about being spotted speaking with him as she again looked over her shoulder towards the building.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” Her voice, tense with shock and apprehension, broke the silence as Kaden got out of the SUV and moved forward to hug her.

“I..um…just wanted to make sure everything's alright,” Kaden explained, a bit confused at her tone and behavior toward him as she lightly shoved him away from her. Lila was acting as if he were a stranger, which was a far cry from how she should have been acting given the more intimate parts of their relationship, “I was really worried when I couldn’t get a hold of you for the last two days. Are you all right? How is your mom?”

Lila’s eyes darted around nervously, and she quickly ducked out of Kaden’s failed attempt at a second embrace as she cast another look over her shoulder, “You shouldn't have come here, Kaden. I….”

The front doors of the hospital parted smoothly, and as they both turned to look, all of the color seemed to drain from Lila’s face. She put on a nervous smile at the sight of the middle-aged woman in a wheelchair being pushed by an orderly to where Lila and Kaden stood.

As Kaden's gaze fell upon Lila’s mother for the first time, he was struck by the stark contrast between her appearance and that of her daughter. The woman, who looked to be in her late fifties, sat tall in the wheelchair, her stature imposing despite her seated position. Kaden continued to stare as Lila’s mother exuded a sense of authority, her presence commanding attention.

Her light blonde hair caught the afternoon sunlight, casting a halo of golden strands around her face, while her bright blue eyes lit up as they fell on where Lila stood. Kaden noted that Florence wore a necklace identical to the one Lila had put on a few days earlier. As the orderly wheeled her toward Kaden, who came to stand next to Lila, she didn’t even glance his way or say anything. Kaden, eager to make a good first impression, stepped forward to greet her, his expression warm and welcoming as he put out his hand to shake hers.

“Finally, the Uber's arrived,” Florence stated in an imperious tone, her words more of a command than a request as she thrust a white plastic bag with the words ‘Patient Belongings’ printed on it into his waiting hand, “Here you are, young man. Think you can manage? Lila, don’t just stand there. Help me into the car!”

Kaden, taken aback by Florence's directness, gazed at Lila for a moment, a look of surprise flickering across his face at her actions as she jolted out of her paralyzed state and rushed to open the back door of the rental car. She didn’t say a word to introduce him to her mother or explain his presence there at all. Kaden, while thrown by Lila’s attitude toward him hadn't anticipated such brusque behavior from Florence Sherman.

“Ma'am, I'm sorry, I think you've got the wrong idea,” Kaden began, slightly flustered but attempting to remain polite as his mind struggled with Lila’s odd behavior, “I'm not your Uber driver.”

Suddenly, Florence's demeanor changed. Her movements became stiff, and her eyes widened with fear as she registered Kaden's presence beside the unknown car. He saw the first hints of suspicion flicker across her face, like a storm cloud darkening the sky. Kaden's heart sank as he realized the extent of Florence's mistrust. He watched helplessly as her panic mounted, her fear applicable in the tense air surrounding them.

“Who are you, then?” Florence murmured, her voice carrying a tinge of something Kaden couldn’t quite identify. Florence's probing gaze bears down on Lila, her expression expectant as she waits for an explanation. “Lila, who is this?” she demands, her tone edged with suspicion.

Lila’s mouth worked but no sound came out of it, which was enough for Florence to spring into action. She immediately struggled to get out of what she perceived as a stranger’s car. Lila, who seemed to suddenly realize she could easily resolve the issue, moved towards her mother as if trying to reassure her.

“Mom, please…..” Lila begged, trying to help her mother back into the car. Kaden just watched without saying anything, his disappointment burbling just under the surface as Lila still didn’t introduce him. Meanwhile, Florence's probing gaze bore down on Lila, her expression expectant as she waited for an explanation.

“Lila, get me out of here.” The older woman demanded when there was none from her daughter, her tone edged with suspicion as her eyes fell on Kaden even as she continued to address her daughter, “Do we need to call the police?”

Kaden’s face registered surprise as he realized Florence appeared to be mistaken about him, and he decided to speak up since Lila had not.

“No ma’am, that’s not necessary. My name is Kaden Jacobs. I'm Lila's boyfriend.”

Florence's face immediately fell, and she muttered a barely audible ‘oh’ before her eyes rolled to where her daughter appeared to cringe now under intense scrutiny. Caught between two worlds, Lila hesitated, her words faltering as she searched for the right thing to say.

“Mom, he's a colleague from work. A friend, actually…and uh..he’s here to uh…well, he’s going to help us get home,” she spoke tentatively, her voice fretful with uncertainty.

Kaden could sense the weight of Florence's inspection, her piercing stare drilling into him as if trying to decipher his intentions. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, acutely aware of the unspoken tension hanging in the air.

“I didn't realize we had company,” Florence remarked coolly, her tone betraying a hint of disapproval.

Lila's cheeks flushed with embarrassment now, the young woman torn between her desire to please her mother and her feelings for Kaden. “I... I didn't mean to…” she stammered, her words trailing off into an awkward silence.

“It's nice to meet you, ma’am.” Kaden recovered for them both, forcing on a polite smile.

Florence eyed Kaden warily, her distrust evident in the furrow of her brow. “Likewise,” she replied curtly, her tone lacking any real warmth.

Kaden's carefully arranged facade faltered for a fraction of a second, his expression tightening almost imperceptibly at the mention of ‘colleague’. By now, wasn’t he much more than that or just a ‘friend’? An internal warning bell chimed within him, as Lila turned six shades of white under the intense stares of both her mother and boyfriend and she appeared ready to be violently ill.

Right now, Florence maintained a polite but chilly façade upon learning who he was, her forced smile barely reaching her eyes as the orderly helped Lila get the older woman back into Kaden’s rental car. Kaden exchanged a fleeting glance with Lila over the roof of the car as she avoided his gaze, sensing the undercurrent of apprehension, and he realized he was treading on unfamiliar, unwelcome territory.

“What is that odor?” Florence inquired just after Lila got into the back seat next to her mother and Kaden got in the driver’s seat and made preparations to leave.

Shit….the flowers.

The flowers Kaden had picked up on his way into town right before he’d visited the Emergency Department, intending to gift them to Florence as a polite gesture since this would be their first meeting.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Kaden exclaimed as he hopped out of the car and opened the back door to the SUV's cargo area. He carefully removed the pretty, purple vase of flowers, which was an assortment of lilies, and got back into the car.

“These are for you, ma'am. I hope they brighten your day,” he offered, trying to bridge the awkwardness with a friendly token.

As Kaden extended the bouquet towards Lila’s mother, a warm smile gracing his lips, he anticipated a moment of shared joy. Yet, the instant Florence caught sight of the flowers, her expression shifted from curiosity to abject terror.

Her eyes widened in alarm, and before Kaden could react, Florence's hands flew to her throat, clawing at the fabric of her collar as if struggling to draw breath. A strangled gasp escaped her lips, followed by a series of violent coughs that wracked her body.

“Mom?” Lila cried out, panic creeping into her voice as she watched Florence's distress escalate, “Mommy, what’s wrong?!”

“Lilies? Ugh…..no…allergic….” Another fit of coughing and gasping as Florence slumped in her seat and Lila’s dark eyes bulged at the fit her mother was having. Kaden was in a state of shock as he watched the woman seem to collapse from the smell of the lilies.

“Kaden! The flowers!!” Lila shrieked as Florence's reaction only intensified, her face turning a deep shade of crimson as she struggled to draw air into her lungs. Beads of sweat dotted her brow, and her hands trembled uncontrollably as she fought against the invisible assailant. “Get the flowers out of here!!!”

Throwing open the door, Kaden quickly removed the offending flowers and deposited them into the nearest waste basket situated near where they were parked. As Kaden gazed at Florence now and Lila fretted over the older woman, her features drawn and haggard from the ordeal, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. His well-intentioned gesture had backfired spectacularly, leaving his girlfriend’s mother shaken and traumatized in its wake. And as he watched her struggle to regain her equilibrium, he vowed never again to underestimate the power of a seemingly innocuous gift.

Lila, her features contorted with concern, reached out to steady her mother, her voice trembling with fear. “Mom, it's okay, just breathe,” she urged, her tone urgent and soothing.

Slowly, Florence's breathing began to ease, the violent spasms subsiding as she gasped for air. Yet, even as she regained her composure, the terror of the moment stuck around, casting a pall over the once-promising encounter.

Kaden's discomfort festered like a gnawing ache in his chest, growing with each passing moment of strained interaction. As he settled back into the driver’s seat, a nagging sense of unease gnawed at him, casting shadows of doubt over his impromptu decision to come upstate unannounced.

Watching Lila navigate the delicate dance between her mother's expectations and his presence, Kaden couldn’t help but feel a pang of uncertainty nibbling at the edges of his mind. The woman he thought he knew so well seemed to morph before his eyes, her demeanor shifting subtly in the presence of her mother, leaving Kaden to wonder if he truly understood her at all.

***

Lila fidgeted nervously in the backseat, feeling her mother's unsettling quietness like a weight pressing down on her chest. She continually tried to break the tension by non-stop talking to no one in particular, which was unusual for her, but her words came out jumbled and rushed. Florence sat rigid, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, staring straight ahead as she maintained her cold silence. Kaden was acutely aware of the unease in the car, and his discomfort grew with each passing mile. He was still upset about Lila not acknowledging him to her mother. Additionally, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd already ruined his chances of making a good impression due to the whole flower thing that had just gone down.

As they drove, Kaden watched Florence in the rearview mirror, hoping to catch some sign of approval or even recognition. But her expression was blank and unreadable. Meanwhile, Lila continued to babble, trying to lighten the mood, but her attempts fell flat. The atmosphere in the car was suffocating, and Kaden couldn't wait to get to Florence's house so he could get some air. The car ride felt like an eternity and as they pulled up in front of Florence's Ranch-style house, Kaden turned the ignition off and got out of the car. Lila did the same and held the door back door open for Florence, helping her out of the car.

“I’m so glad to be home after this awful ordeal,” Florence sighed as Lila smiled, at last, as her mother addressed her. “I just want to rest. Tell your friend you will speak to him later. It was nice to meet you, Kaden.”

Kaden blinked as he realized that Florence intended for him to leave and Lila to stay. The last thing he wanted was to get Florence upset at him again so he was going to do the right thing and give Lila the space she seemed to need. While it was no problem for him to get a hotel for the night, on his way back downstate, Kaden inwardly kicked himself as he wished he had listened to his mother and waited to hear from his girlfriend first. But then Lila surprised him by piping up and speaking for him, at last.

“Mom, I thought Kaden could stay here. You know, since he’s my friend and he went through a great deal to help us out. Is that okay?” Lila ventured, sounding as if it had taken everything in her to even voice the request, albeit meekly.

As Florence's gaze shifted between the young couple, Kaden felt the weight of her scrutiny like physical pressure. He shifted uncomfortably under her piercing stare, his nerves on edge as he waited for Florence’s response.

Lila's unspoken anxiety was evident, her brown eyes darting nervously between her mother and Kaden. Finally, with a deep breath, she spoke up again, her tone driven despite the uncertainty in her eyes. “Mom, Kaden can stay, can’t he?”

Florence's expression tightened, a flicker of disapproval crossing her features before she masked it with a forced smile. “Well, if that's what you want, Turtledove,” she answered, her tone betraying a hint of reluctance.

Kaden breathed a silent sigh of relief, grateful for Lila's support even as he sensed Florence's lingering reservation. He shot Lila a thankful smile, glad that she had finally stood by him.

“I am going to rest for a bit, but I am sure you two can fend for yourselves for something to eat,” Florence said as she walked slowly towards the front door of the house, pausing briefly on the walkway before continuing and disappearing inside a moment later.

Kaden watched as Lila looked upset at seeing her mother’s uneven gait, realizing that things with Florence’s accident might be worse than he initially thought. Lila's concern was evident as she turned to face Kaden, worry etched into her features. “She seems off, doesn't she?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaden concurred, his own unease mirrored in her eyes. “Yeah, she does,” he established, his tone troubled. “We'll keep an eye on her, okay?”

Lila nodded, grateful for his reassurance as she leaned into him for support. “Okay,” she murmured, her voice wavering slightly. “Thank you, Kaden.”

Grateful to finally be alone with Lila again so he could speak freely, Kaden turned to her, “Are you sure everything is okay between you and your mom? She seemed a bit upset when she found out I was your boyfriend.”

Lila sighed, “It’s not you, Kaden. It's…complicated. She's always been very protective of me, and I think she's just having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I'm an adult now.”

Kaden frowned, “I don't know, it just seems like there's something more going on. Didn’t you ever mention me to her before?”

Lila looked guilty, “No, but it was only because I guess I was waiting for the right time. I am sure things will get better as you two get to know each other.”

Kaden nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling that there was something not quite right about Florence's reaction to him. He felt it right to apologize for the issue with the flowers.

“Don’t worry about it.” Lila assured him, as they headed toward the house after she picked up the plastic bag with Florence’s personal effects within, “I’ll be honest, I had no idea Mom was allergic to lilies.”

“Sometimes as people age they develop allergies I think.” Kaden surmised as Lila shrugged, and again told him not to stress.

Kaden's apology hung heavy in the air as he confessed his impromptu arrival to Lila, his voice laced with genuine remorse. “Again, sorry for just showing up like this,” he said, his tone fervent with guilt. “I should've checked with you first but I was just worried about you.”

Lila's expression softened with understanding as she listened to his explanation, sympathy evident in her eyes. “It's okay, Kaden,” she assured him, her voice gentle. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters to me.”

He nodded, grateful for her understanding, but a sense of guilt still gnawed at him as he considered his next words. “Listen, I appreciate the offer, but I think it might be best for me to see if I can find a hotel somewhere nearby,” he offered, his tone hesitant. “I don't want to impose.”

Lila's hand reached out to touch his arm, her touch reassuring. “No, don't be silly,” she insisted, her voice firm as she held his arm and smiled up at him. “Mom is fine with you staying. So am I.”

The realization that Lila had not mentioned him to her mother still stung Kaden deeply. They had known each other for nearly two years, slowly building a life together downstate, and yet, here they were. Living under the same roof for almost six months, Lila had not even hinted at the seriousness of their relationship to her mother.

Kaden's heart pounded with a mix of frustration and hurt as he struggled to process Lila's admission as the two leaned up against the car. He couldn't shake the feeling of being sidelined, reduced to nothing more than a footnote in her conversations with her mother.

“Lila,” he began, his voice strained with emotion, “I thought we were more than just friends or colleagues from work. I thought what we had was real.”

Lila's eyes widened in response to the intensity of his words, her own emotions mirroring his. “Kaden, it's not like that,” she protested, her voice firm with remorse. “I just didn't know how to bring it up to Mom. You don’t know how she can be.”

But Kaden's frustration simmered beneath the surface, his disappointment obvious. “It's been months, Lila,” he pressed, his voice steadfast with the disillusion that had been painted. “We've built a life together. We've talked about our future, even. How could you not tell her about us?”

Lila reached out to touch his arm, her expression filled with remorse. “I'm so sorry, Kaden,” she murmured, her voice regretful with acknowledgment. “I didn't mean to make you feel this way. I just didn't know how to navigate it all.”

But Kaden couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at him. “I thought we were in this together,” he admitted, his voice cracking with emotion. “But if you can't even tell your own mother about us, then what does that say about our relationship?”

As the weight of his words hung heavy in the air, Lila's gaze faltered, her own emotions raw and exposed. While they sat in silence, the emotional distance between them growing, Kaden couldn't help but wonder if their relationship could withstand the strain of secrets and unspoken truths.

“You don’t understand how hard this all is on me….”

Kaden's frustration simmered beneath the surface, his hurt deepening with every passing moment of silence.

“Then help me understand, Lila,” he pressed, his tone pleading. “Are you ashamed of me?”

Lila's eyes widened in alarm at his accusation, and she reached out to grasp his hand. “No, of course not,” she protested, the heartbreak in her tone filled with desperation for him to understand. “It's just... I didn't know how to bring it up. And with everything going on with Mom, I didn't want to upset her.”

Kaden's shoulders slumped with disappointment, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. “But keeping us a secret isn't fair to either of us,” he insisted, his voice rueful. “We deserve to be open and honest about our relationship.”

Lila’s head bobbed, but she didn’t say anything further as Kaden got their bags from the back of the SUV and the two headed up the driveway, pausing at where the walkway began. As they approached, Florence appeared in the front doorway of the house, peering out at them. Kaden raised a hand to wave, but she didn’t wave back. She ducked back inside the house and closed the door firmly instead.

“Yikes,” Kaden said, with a shake of his head as he and Lila looked toward the house, “I think I may have gotten off on the wrong foot with her.”

“Stop it, Kaden. She’ll be fine.” Lila assured him as she looped her arm through his as they headed up the walkway, “Let’s get settled and see what’s up for lunch. You must be starved.”