“Alice—”
“I’m so dramatic that I thought you’d care more about my safety than Lance’s reputation.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?” I walk to the front door and open it. “You chose him over me a year ago when I called you crying. You didn’t even listen to my side. You’re choosing him over me now. At least be honest about it.”
Mom picks up her purse, her movements sharp and angry. “You’re making a mistake, Alice. A big one.”
“Maybe. But it’s my mistake to make.”
“He's going to lose everything because of you. And when he does, he'll blame you for it. He'll leave, just like everyone else does.”
The words hit exactly where she intended them to.But this time, they don't break me.
After she leaves, I lock the door and lean against it. My hands are shaking again, but this time it’s anger instead of fear.What was that?A long time ago, I wouldn't have dared speak to my mom that way. Even if she was cruel. Whatever it was, it felt nice to stand up for myself.
I pick up the document she left on my table. All I have to do is sign my name and Sawyer’s troubles go away.
But Lance’s troubles go away too.
I tear the paper in half, then in half again, until it’s just pieces scattered across my kitchen table. The sound is satisfying.
My mother made her choice. Now I’ve made mine.
An hour later, I’m standing in Pine Hollows Cemetery, holding a small bouquet of sunflowers from the grocery store. The sun is setting, casting long shadows between the headstones, and the air is cool with the promise of winter.
I walk the familiar path to the back corner where my grandmother rests under a simple granite headstone. Even after all this time, seeing her name carved in stone makes my chest tight.
Alice Marie Campbell
Beloved Mother and Grandmother
“A woman of quiet strength and fierce love.”
Same first name, same middle name, same last name. My maternal grandmother. Mom told me she named me after her since we were bonded from the moment I was conceived. She gave me her maiden name instead of my father's—Campbell instead of whatever legacy he might have left me. I never even knew his last name until I was old enough to ask. By then, he'd been gone so long it didn't matter anymore.
I kneel down and place the sunflowers (her favorite flower) at the base of the headstone, brushing away fallen leaves. My hands are steadier here than they were with my mother.
“Hi, Grandma,” I say quietly. “I know it’s been a while.”
The cemetery is quiet except for the wind through the trees. The grass is damp. The air smells like earth and fallen leaves. I settle onto the grass, not caring if my jeans get dirty.
“I had a fight with Mom today. A big one.” I laugh without humor. “I guess that’s not news to you. You knew what she was like better than anyone. I couldn’t imagine trying to raise someone like that. I don’t know how someone like her came from someone like you.”
I trace my finger along the carved letters of her name. “She chose Lance over me. Again. She actually brought paperwork to my house trying to get me to drop the charges against someone for doing the right thing. She thinks he’s only trying to get into my pants. Like I’m not worthy of something so much more. Can you believe that?”
The wind picks up, rustling the leaves around me.
“I tore it up, though. I told her to get out of my house.” I feel tears starting. “I finally stood up to her, Grandma. I finally told her she was wrong.”
I think about all the times my grandmother defended me when Mom was being critical, all the afternoons we spent in her kitchen while she taught me to bake and told me I was strong enough to handle anything.
“You’re stronger than you think, Alice Marie," she'd say. "Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.”
“There’s this man,” I continue. “His name is Sawyer. You would have liked him. He’s kind and he makes me feel safe in a way I never thought was possible. He’s literally the polar opposite of Lance.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “He’s a police officer, and he arrested Lance when Lance broke into your house—my house—and hurt me. But now Mom is trying to destroy his career because she thinks protecting Lance is more important than protecting me.”
