For the first time, I realize she’s on the phone.
“Sorry,” I whisper, covering my mouth with my finger apologetically.
“Jackie, no, don’t leave,” she stops me. “It’s your Uncle Will. He was calling to see how I was doing and if you were home.”
My stomach plummets. I have to fight hard to keep my face neutral at the mention of my father’s brother. A man I hate almost as much as my father.
“Well, I’m home. I’m going to head upstairs,” I say, but before I can turn to exit, my mother stops me.
“He wants to speak with you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “It’s been a long day.” I shake my head and give her a sad look as she holds the phone out to me.
Her gaze lowers, and she moves the phone to her ear, telling my uncle what I said.
“He says he just wants to check on you.”
I sigh, feeling guilty enough for putting my mother in the middle of this. I should’ve known better. The same way she could never stand up to my father is how she behaves with my uncle.
“Hey, Uncle Will.” I give my mother a false smile, which seems to placate her. Her shoulders slump a little as she moves to the couch, wrapping her arms around her body as she sits. She looks like a lost little bird.
“Is your mother still there?”
No pleasantries. Not that I expected them.
“Yes.”
“Great. Then keep smiling. I don’t think she’s doing so well.”
“Yeah, me either. Wonder why that is,” I snap, more angrily than I mean to.
“Watch your tone of voice. Hank always said what a disrespectful little thing you were. I see much hasn’t changed.”
Biting my bottom lip, I hold on to thefuck offthat wants to spill out.
“Uncle Will, it has been a long day, and I don’t think Mama has eaten.”
“I won’t take much more of your time. Solely checking in to make sure everything is going as expected over there. She says you’ve been spending a lot of time out of the house lately.”
Rolling my eyes, I answer with, “My new job has me working on a big project which is taking up a lot of my free time.” Not a lie there.
“Good. Which means you’re staying away from anything oranyoneyou don’t need to be around, correct?”
My toes curl in anger into the carpet of the living room as I ignore the note of warning that passes through my stomach.
“Absolutely,” I lie. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Yes, please go right ahead. Attend to your mother. That’s what you returned to Williamsport for, isn’t it?”
Choosing not to answer his question, I respond with, “Have a good night, Uncle Will,” before hanging up.
I place my mother’s cell down on the coffee table. She peers up at me with a small smile.
“Have you had dinner?”
“Is it time for dinner?” she questions, looking around.
I move to the couch, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Mama, I’m worried about you.”
