I’ve seen the bank statements.
Eighteen years of payments, Grandma.
Every single month.”
“Those don’t mean anything —”
“They mean everything.
You lied.
For my entire life, you lied.”
Margaret’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“You don’t understand.
She wasn’t fit.
She was young and broke and alone.
I did what any mother would do.”
“You took my mother from me.”
“I gave you a better life.”
“No.
You gave me your version of one and made me hate the person who loved me most.”
Clara sat still.
She didn’t speak.
She let Sophie say it.
Margaret’s voice came through the speaker one last time.
“If you choose her, don’t bother coming back to this house.”
Sophie looked at Clara.
Clara shook her head slowly.
“You don’t have to choose,” Clara said softly.
“I already lost you once.
I won’t be the reason you lose anyone else.”
