I stepped back, holding the car seat protectively. « Not yet, Mom. »
Her face faltered, confusion knitting her brow. « What’s wrong? »
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I shoved the note in her direction. « This is what’s wrong! What did you do to Suzie? »
Her smile vanished, and she took the note with shaking fingers. Her pale blue eyes scanned the words, and for a moment, she looked like she might faint.
« Ben, I don’t know what this is about, » Mom replied. « She’s… she’s always been emotional. Maybe she — »
« Don’t lie to me! » The words erupted, my voice echoing off the porch walls. « You’ve never liked her. You’ve always found ways to undermine her, criticize her — »
« I’ve only ever tried to help! » Her voice broke, tears spilling over her cheeks.
I turned away, my gut churning. I couldn’t trust her words anymore. Whatever had happened between them had driven Suzie to leave. And now I was left to pick up the pieces.
That night, after settling Callie and Jessica in their cribs, I sat at the kitchen table with the note in one hand and a whiskey in the other. My mother’s protests rang in my ears, but I couldn’t let them drown out the question looping in my mind: What did you do, Mom?
I thought back to our family gatherings, and the small barbs my mother would throw Suzie’s way. Suzie had laughed them off, but I could see now, too late, how they must have cut her.
