Hazel froze.
“You…” She shook her head faintly. “Mother, I do not understand.”
“I am apologizing,” her mother continued, tightening her hold as though Hazel might pull away, “for taking your early womanhood and calling it duty. I apologize for leaning upon you because it was convenient and because you were capable, and never stopping to consider the cost.”
Hazel’s breath caught.
“I told myself it was natural,” her mother went on. “That you were the eldest, that you were steady, that you did not seem to mind. I never realized how much it burdened you. Or perhaps,” her mouth tightened as she spoke, “I did not wish to.”
Hazel felt something loosen in her chest that she had carried for so long she had mistaken it for part of herself.
“I do not feel that pressure anymore,” Hazel told her tenderly. “Not as I once did.”
Her mother seemed surprised by her reaction.
“I still love my sisters,” Hazel continued. “I will always help them, if and whentheyask. But setting boundaries has not made me colder.” A small, fragile smile touched her lips. “It has made me freer and more able to love without resentment, more able to express it without losing myself.”
Her mother’s eyes shone.
“I thought I was raising you to be strong,” she whispered. “I see now that I asked you to be everything instead.”
Hazel squeezed her hands. “We did what we knew.”
For a moment, mother and daughter stood together in quiet understanding. There was no reproach and no defense left to make.
Then her mother drew Hazel into an embrace, which was awkward at first, unaccustomed, but unmistakably heartfelt.
“I am so proud of you,” she said into Hazel’s hair. “Not for what you have carried. But for what you have finally put down.”
Hazel closed her eyes, letting herself rest there. The moment seemed filled with endless tenderness, when suddenly, the door burst open. Chastity and Patience tumbled into the room in a most undignified heap, with their skirts tangling, their elbows colliding and expressing a startledoofas they both hit the carpet.
Hazel stared. So did her mother.
Chastity groaned. “I meant to catch myself.”
Patience, already attempting to rise with what little dignity remained, muttered. “You said the door was solid.”
“Itwas,” Chastity protested.
Hazel pressed a hand to her mouth and then laughed. It startled her at first, the sound bubbling up before she could stop it. Her mother joined her a moment later, a soft chuckle escaping her, followed by another, until both women were laughing helplessly at the ridiculous tableau before them.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” their mother said, wiping at her eyes. “Must youalwaysannounce yourselves so dramatically?”
Chastity scrambled to her feet. “We were not eavesdropping.”
Patience nodded solemnly. “We were… standing guard.”
“On the inside of the door?” Hazel asked, still laughing.
Chastity sighed. “In hindsight, poor placement.”
Their mother waved an amused hand. “Get up, both of you. If you intended to spy, you might at least have had the decency to remain upright.”
They obeyed, smoothing their gowns and exchanging sheepish looks.
Their mother regarded them for a moment more before she straightened with sudden resolve. “Well,” she said briskly, “this house has held quite enough emotion for one morning. I propose we all go out.”
Chastity’s eyes lit at once. “Out?”
