“Those bruises.”
Daniel sighed.
“Please don’t start.”
Melissa turned toward him.
“What happened?”
“She fell again.”
“When?”
“A little over a week ago.”
“Who told you?”
“Lauren.”
Melissa looked at him sharply.
“Did Mom tell you?”
Daniel hesitated.
“She agreed with Lauren.”
“Did she explain what happened?”
“Melissa, she’s embarrassed.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Daniel folded his arms.
“Why is everybody interrogating me tonight?”
“Because we’re worried.”
“So am I.”
Melissa glanced toward Lauren.
“Then maybe you should ask different questions.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Melissa didn’t answer immediately.
Her attention returned to Evelyn.
Daniel could see her struggling with something.
“Talk to me,” he said.
Melissa lowered her voice.
“Has Mom been alone with you lately?”
“Sure.”
“When?”
“Last Sunday.”
“Lauren was there.”
Daniel frowned.
“What’s your point?”
“I’m asking whether you’ve spoken privately.”
He thought back.
Lauren had been present during most of his visits.
Sometimes she stepped into the kitchen.
Sometimes she stayed close enough to hear everything.
Daniel hadn’t considered it unusual.
Now he felt uneasy.
“I don’t remember.”
Melissa’s jaw tightened.
“Exactly.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You’re making this sound suspicious.”
“Maybe it is.”
He looked around.
Several guests had begun watching them.
“Not here.”
Melissa nodded.
“Fine.”
She led him toward the side of the garage.
The music sounded faint from there.
A row of potted mums stood beneath the window.
Daniel stopped beside them.
“All right. Tell me.”
Melissa took a breath.
“Mom hasn’t been herself.”
“I know. She’s recovering.”
“It’s more than recovery.”
“How?”
“She barely answers questions when Lauren’s nearby.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She keeps changing the subject whenever anyone asks about her injuries.”
“Because she’s embarrassed.”
Melissa shook her head.
“Our mother isn’t easily embarrassed.”
“She’s seventy-one and recovering from surgery.”
“That doesn’t explain everything.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Then explain it.”
Melissa looked toward the backyard.
“I promised Mom I’d let her speak for herself.”
The answer frustrated him.
“You can’t accuse Lauren of something and refuse to explain.”
“I haven’t accused anyone.”
“You’re implying it.”
“I’m telling you to pay attention.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“To what?”
“To Mom.”
He looked away.
Melissa stepped closer.
“Daniel, when was the last time she looked comfortable?”
The question stopped him.
He pictured Evelyn sitting at the table.
Her fingers twisted around a napkin.
Her eyes followed Lauren’s movements.
She spoke almost entirely in whispers.
Daniel couldn’t remember seeing her laugh that evening.
“She had surgery,” he said.
Melissa’s expression softened.
“I know you want that to explain everything.”
“It explains a lot.”
“Maybe.”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Listen when she asks to speak.”
“I always listen.”
Melissa looked at him quietly.
Daniel felt the criticism.
“You think I don’t?”
“I think you trust Lauren.”
“She’s my fiancée.”
“I know.”
“She’s been helping Mom for months.”
“I know that, too.”
“Then what?”
Melissa looked down at her hands.
“Helping someone doesn’t mean you should never question them.”
Daniel felt defensive.
He remembered the meals Lauren had delivered.
The prescriptions she’d collected.
The evenings she’d spent at Evelyn’s house.
He wanted those memories to mean what he’d believed.
“You don’t like Lauren,” he said.
Melissa’s face tightened.
“This isn’t about whether I like her.”
“You’ve been cold toward her for weeks.”
“Have you wondered why?”
Daniel opened his mouth.
No answer came.
Melissa looked exhausted.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love Mom.”
“And I love Grace.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I know.”
“Then please understand that I’m trying to protect all three of you.”
A strange silence followed.
Daniel felt the weight of her words.
“Protect us from what?”
Melissa looked toward the gate.
“I can’t explain it before Mom does.”
He stepped back.
“So that’s it?”
“Daniel.”
“You warn me that something’s wrong, then refuse to tell me.”
“Because she asked me not to.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
Melissa’s eyes glistened.
“Give her the chance.”
Daniel looked toward the backyard.
He could see Evelyn sitting beneath the lights.
Grace stood beside her.
Lauren was approaching the table.
Daniel suddenly wanted to reach his mother before his fiancée did.
“Fine,” he said.
“I’ll talk to her.”
Melissa exhaled.
“Thank you.”
They returned together.
Lauren intercepted them beside the buffet.
“There you are!”
Her voice sounded cheerful.
She leaned forward to hug Melissa.
Melissa returned the embrace stiffly.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,” Lauren said.
“Traffic.”
“Of course.”
Lauren smiled.
“There’s a seat beside Nina.”
“I’d rather sit with Mom.”
Lauren glanced toward Evelyn.
“She should probably leave soon.”
Melissa stopped.
“Did she say that?”
“She’s exhausted.”
“Did she ask to leave?”
Lauren’s smile tightened.
“I’m trying to be considerate.”
“Then ask her what she wants.”
Daniel felt the tension between them.
“Melissa.”
His sister looked at him.
“What?”
Popular Posts
→- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Recently Viewed
Stories you read recently will appear here.
