Chapter 11 - THE MOTHER WHO CHOSE A SIDE
When I returned home, I found my mother sitting on the front porch.
She looked older than I remembered.
Her lavender dress from the wedding was gone.
She wore a plain cardigan and dark trousers.
A small overnight bag rested beside her chair.
I stopped at the bottom of the steps.
"What are you doing here?"
She stood.
"I need somewhere to stay."
I stared at the bag.
"Why?"
Her eyes filled.
"Your father asked me to leave."
For a moment, I thought I had misheard.
"What happened?"
She looked toward the driveway.
"He knows you spoke to David."
My stomach tightened.
"How?"
"David called him."
I crossed my arms.
"And?"
My mother swallowed.
"They argued."
"About what?"
She looked down.
"About the past."
I almost laughed.
"The past seems to be causing a lot of problems lately."
"Annie, please."
I watched her carefully.
For months, this woman had treated my grief as an inconvenience.
She had defended my husband's affair.
She had supported Lauren's wedding.
She had helped conceal a letter connected to my medical care.
And now she wanted my protection.
I wasn't sure whether I felt anger or exhaustion.
"Why did you hide the clinic letter?"
Her face crumpled.
"Because Lauren begged me."
"Why?"
"She said Ryan was trying to prove something."
"Something about my pregnancy?"
My mother nodded.
I stared at her.
"You knew he accused me of cheating."
She covered her face.
"I didn't know what to believe."
"Did you ever ask me?"
She lowered her hands.
"No."
I took a slow breath.
"Why not?"
She began crying.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
She looked at me.
"Of losing both my daughters."
The answer stunned me.
"You were afraid of losing Lauren."
"No."
"Mom, I was the one in the hospital."
She cried harder.
"I know."
"My baby had died."
"I know."
"Ryan was planning a wedding with my sister."
"Annie—"
"And you never even came to see me."
She closed her eyes.
That was the truth neither of us had spoken aloud.
During the darkest week of my life, my mother had chosen not to enter my hospital room.
Rachel had stayed.
The nurses had comforted me.
My children had waited at home.
But my mother had been too busy defending Lauren to hold her grieving daughter.
I looked at her overnight bag.
"You can't stay here."
She stared at me.
"Annie, I'm your mother."
"And I'm Amelia's mother."
Her expression shifted.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I won't bring someone into this house who makes my child feel guilty for telling the truth."
She began shaking her head.
"I never meant to hurt her."
"Then you need to take responsibility."
She looked toward the door.
"Please."
My voice softened.
"Mom, I hope you find somewhere safe to stay."
Then I stepped around her.
As I reached the door, she spoke again.
"Your father doesn't know everything."
I stopped.
My hand remained on the doorknob.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"About the old hospital file."
I turned.
Her eyes were wide.
Terrified.
"Then tell me."
She glanced toward the street.
"I can't."
"Why?"
May you like
Her next words chilled me.
"Because if I tell you why your records were changed when you were a little girl, you'll never look at our family the same way again."
