Chapter 10 - Her Key Still Fit Yesterday
Mom called twelve times that night.
I answered once.
She cried. Then accused. Then cried again.
“You made my sister turn on me.”
“You did that.”
“I’m coming over. We’ll settle this face-to-face.”
“No.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing my grandson.”
“We’re not having visitors.”
She hung up.
I checked the front door twice before bed.
The locksmith had finished that afternoon.
Mia watched me from the hallway.
“Did she say she was coming?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I turned.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
Her expression closed.
There it was again.
Me deciding what she could handle.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That was wrong. She said she was coming. I told her no. The locks are changed.”
Mia nodded, but she didn’t relax.
The next morning, I was warming breakfast when metal scraped inside the front lock.
Once.
Twice.
Then the doorbell rang.
Mia froze at the table.
Nico slept against her chest.
“Stay here,” I said.
Then corrected myself.
“I’ll answer. Do you want the bedroom door closed?”
“Yes.”
Through the peephole, Mom stood holding a bag of groceries.
Celia waited behind her.
I opened the door only wide enough to step outside.
“You were told not to come.”
Mom lifted the bag.
“I brought food.”
“You should have called.”
“I did. You refused to answer.”
Celia looked exhausted.
“She said she was only dropping things off.”
“Then she can leave them.”
Mom tried to look past me.
“Mia! I know you can hear me.”
“Lower your voice.”
“She needs to stop hiding behind you.”
The door opened behind me.
Mia stood there without Nico.
“I’m not hiding.”
Mom straightened.
“I came to apologize.”
“Then apologize.”
“I’m sorry you took things so personally.”
Mia didn’t move.
“That isn’t an apology.”
“You’re determined to hate me.”
“No. I’m determined to rest.”
Mom’s eyes filled.
She turned toward me.
“Look at what she’s doing to us.”
I had spent my whole life stepping toward my mother whenever she cried.
This time, I stayed beside my wife.
“You need to leave,” I said.
Celia took the grocery bag.
“Come on, Lourdes.”
Mom stared at me.
Then she looked at Mia.
“You think you’ve won.”
Mia answered softly.
“I was on the floor.”
For one moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mom walked away.
May you like
Behind us, Nico woke crying.
Mia flinched before she turned toward his room.
