“It’s a burden.”She frowns at me.“She doesn’t care.You’re a good mom.Youare her home.”
I want to scream and cry all at the same time.
She doesn’t understand what it’s like to lose a husband.To see your child grieving.I know Zoe is her granddaughter, so she’s not completely immune, but I’m her mother.
It’s different.
It is.
“Home, home, homeeee.”Zoe sings and dances like a dolphin, flying in front of my face.“Hommmmeeee.”
Oh, the joy of being innocent and unburdened.
I give Mom a sad smile and shake my head.“No.”
She nods.“All right, darlings.I am off to see Grandpa.”
Zoe leaps off my lap and runs around in a circle, avoiding the farewell hug.
“Give Grandma a kiss goodbye.”I stand and hug Mom and wait for Zoe to do the same.She slams into Mom’s legs, kisses her thigh and then darts off out of the room, singing something out of tune.
“Mom, you gave her sugar, didn’t you?”
“I’m her grandmother; of course, I did.”She walks to the elevator with a smile.“Bye, darling.”
Gah.
Hopefully Zoe will burn herself out before bedtime.I decide a nice bowl of macaroni cheese with all its sleep-inducing carbohydrates will do my daughter good tonight.
And me.
Tomorrow, I have to face Drew.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
DREW
