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Alma raised her hand, and I ducked before she made contact with my cheek.
“You’re a liar,” I hissed.
She gaped at me incredulously. “You are a lying whore. I can’t believe you. You stole all of Grandma and Grandpa’s money. Now you want all mine too.”
“I don’t want your money.” I wasn’t going to touch her other accusation. “Now go. I don’t want to argue with you when I’m this angry.”
“Have you been with him this whole time?”
“Do you care?” I cried. Kane had said multiple times Alma had been unfaithful most of their marriage. With every passing second, it became clearer who the true culprit in their relationship had been.
And it wasn’t Kane.
We’ve reconnected.
My stomach turned over. No. He wouldn’t do that. He hated Alma. And he’d confided in me about her visit.
My sister was stirring up trouble to hurt all of us. If I was honest with myself, she had been doing that for a long time. It was almost . . . habitual. Hearing her speak so harshly to Penelope was unacceptable and timely.
I did the right thing twenty years ago. At least by protecting Penelope from Alma. But how dare she point her vicious finger at me now? No, she didn’t get to do this. I wasn’t going to allow her another chance to hurt everyone this time.
I opened the front door wide and made a sweeping gesture.
“I took up for you in front of everyone all these years for the way you’ve embarrassed our family. Your stupid organization. A child with no father—”
“Go.” I shoved her.
How dare she?
She stumbled on her tiny heels and fell hard onto the brick stoop. Pure venom stared up at me as she swiped hair out of her face.
“I’m going to the police for assault.”
“Do what you have to.” I slammed the door and locked the deadbolt before leaning against it.
My breaths were heavy as I closed my eyes.
She was my sister.
You’re a slut.
How could she say those things? How could she act as if Penelope didn’t exist? As if my daughter was an embarrassment?
She was the best thing that ever happened to our family. I prayed she hadn’t heard any of the ugly words.
Tires screeched as an engine roared on the other side of the door.
All my energy had been sucked out of me. I slid down to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest.
What a disaster.
“Mom? Are you okay?” Penelope rushed over and sat beside me. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned her head against mine.
Kane sauntered into the foyer.
I gave him a wry smile. “I think I need a lawyer.”
One corner of his mouth pulled up. “How have you existed without me for so long?”
