Maxine sagged against the door, listening in on their conversation, her heart pounding as anger swelled up inside her.
“And offering up the garage apartment was brilliant. She can even get up for those middle-of-the-night feedings,” David added confidently.
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking. We’ll put in an intercom. And she’ll be back in town and can take care of planning that big business dinner you want to have. That will impress your bosses. I admit, she is really good at organizing things like that.”
“She is. And I plan to take full advantage of that. And I think I’ll offer to head up the charity ball the company sponsors each year. My boss will like that. I’m so close to getting that promotion. This might seal the deal. Mom can figure all that charity stuff out for me.”
“Things will finally get back to normal with her back and taking care of things.”
Tiffany’s smug tone made anger swell through her. Maxine swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and pushed off the wall. She strode into the sitting room.
“Mom, there you are.” David looked at his watch, checking to see if she was on time. Onhisscheduled time.
She just barely kept herself from snatching the watch off his wrist. “Yes, I’m here. As you requested. No, as you told me to do.”
David’s forehead creased, and he set his coffee down on the side table, ignoring the stack of coasters. She walked across the room, grabbed one, and put his coffee cup on it.
She turned to face Tiffany, feeling the flush creep across her face as her anger rose up inside her. She clenched her jaw. “Do you plan on me watching your baby full time?”
“I… uh… I thought you might like to.”
“Like to raise another child? Full time? After raising you two? And you just expected me to do this without even asking me?”
“I thought?—”
Maxine held out her hand and cut her off. “Yes, that’s the problem. You thought of what was best for you. Not what’s best for that baby you’re carrying. Only yourself.”
She whirled around and faced David. “And you think that I’m going to spend my time taking care of your business affairs, too? You think that’s how I want to spend my time?”
“Mom, were you eavesdropping?” His eyes flashed as he accused her.
“You bet I was. And I can’t believe what I heard.” She whirled back around to face Tiffany. “You said you needed me. You wanted me back home. But you just need someone to take care of that baby. But guess what? That baby is your responsibility and will be its whole life. No one else can take that over. Deciding to have a baby is a big responsibility.”
“I didn’t decide to. It was an accident,” Tiffany shot back.
“And I hope that child never finds that out. I hope that child feels loved and wanted. You need to grow up, Tiffany.”
Her daughter’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “What did you say?”
“I said you need to grow up. You’re an adult. It’s time you acted like one instead of a spoiled brat. Part of that is my fault. I let you get away with a lot of things. Like your rudeness to people. The way you act like you’re better than the people living on this island. Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re not. These are good, hardworking people. They are here for each other. Respect each other.” Her growing anger gave her strength to speak what she should have said years ago.
“Mom, I think you’re getting a bit overwrought.” David’s patronizing tone was impossible to ignore.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she snapped back at him. “I’m your mother. You should at least act like you respect me.”
She stepped back and looked at both of them. “I’m so disappointed in both of you. In your attitudes. The way you put yourselves first. How did I raise such self-centered children? The way you think nothing of asking me to drop everything in the life I’ve worked so hard to build after your father left me… and come back to do your bidding.”
“It’s not like that.” Tiffany’s eyes glistened with the beginning of panic.
“It isn’t going to be like that. Because I’m not moving back to Philadelphia.” And a strong sense of peace, of rightness, soared through her at the words. “I’m staying here in Magnolia Key. I’ll come visit the baby as often as I can. I’d like to be there for the birth if you’ll let me. But I won’t be moving back.”
David stood up, shaking his head dismissively. “You’ll come to your senses soon enough. You’ll get tired of your life here. Then you’ll come home. And when you finally do? Just see if we’ll help you out then.”
“I have come to my senses. That’s why I’m staying.”
“David, look what you’ve done. You’ve made her mad and now what am I going to do?” Tiffany jumped up and stood by her brother, poking a finger at his chest.
“What I did? I was just trying to get her to come back home. You failed last time.”
