Chapter 5
The next moming, Lama still had falet red marks across her arms. I dabbed them gently with ointment as she sat quietly on the sofa, her legs swinging. Will hadn’t said a word to me since the amusement park After storming out with Charlotte and Evelyn, he returned home Late. I didn’t ask where he’d been. I didn’t c
The phone rang.
I grabbed it, hoping it was something that could distract me. “Hello?
“It’s Susan,” said the voice on the other end. “I want to see Lima today. Bring her to the house.”
Thesitated, Will’s mother wasn’t exactly warm toward me, but she adored Luna.
“Alright,” I said. “We’ll come by after lunch”
Susan hung up without another word.
I packed Luna’s favorite books and her bunny in a small bag
She held my hand tightly as we walked out.
“Are we going to Grandma Susan’s?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
She grinned widely. “She always gives me chocolate.”
1 smiled. “I’m sure she will today too.”
will like it ?=
I dressed Luna in a pale yellow dress and tied her hair into neat twin braids. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, “Do you think Grandma will lik
“She’ll love it, I said, grabbing the car keys.
We arrived at Susan’s house just after two. The front yard was freshly trimmed, and the flowerbeds bloomed Susan opened the door with a stiff nod, her face barely acknowledging me, but her eyes lit up when she saw Luna.
“My darling girl,” she said, kneeling down. Come give Grandma a hug.”
Duma ran to bet and wrapped her arms around her neck.
Susan pulled her in and kissed her cheek
Susan stood and looked at me. “You can come in.
1 followed her into the sitting room
Luna sat beside her, showing her a drawing she’d done at school. Susan admired it, then noticed the bandages peeking out from Luna’s sleeve.
“What happened to your atm?” she asked, frowning.
Lunashifted nervously. “LI bumped into a pole.”
Susan narrowed her eyes. “That doesn’t look like a bump. It looks like you scraped it on something rough.”
It’s nothing, really, Luna mumbled
Susan looked at me, cold and sharp. “You need to be mince careful. Will works too hard. The least you can do is look after your daughter properly.”
1 bat the inside of my cheek but said nothing.
Ten minutes later, the doortiell rang again.
Susan glanced at the door and muttered, “That better not be who I think it is.”
Seconds later, Will walked in with Charlotte and Evelyn.
“Mom,”
“he said, walking over to kiss hercheek
Susan’s expression hardened. “You didn’t say you wear bringing guests.”
“They were in the area,” Will said, brushing it off. Evelyn immediately ran to lama, but Luna avoided eye contact.
Charlotte stepped forward, sthiling like nothing had happened. “Susan, you look wonderful. It’s been so long-
Susan looked at Charlotte and a look of distate plasteaed on her face. “I don’t need sawned guest come to my house.”
Charlotte blinked. “I just wanted to say hello. Nothing more.”
Susan folded her ass and then rolled her eyes. “Clearly. F’s pretty sure you didn’t get the menu when i told you to stay away from my son. You should’ve stayed while you were. I don’t want you near Will.”
Charlotte blinked “LI think there’s a misunderstanding”
“There’s no misunderstanding,” Susan said sharply “You misheard what I told you. You are not welcome here. I law what kind of person you are.”
Charlotte tumed to me with innocent eyes. “Anna, did you say something to be
1blinked. “No.” Η
Charlotte turned toward me with a plastered smile. “Anna, I hope three’s no misunderstanding betweenus. There’s nothing going on with me and Will
I stared at her. “You’ve made yourself pretty clear already.”
Will tumed sharply. “What does that mean?
tams. “Is ineans you need to stop dragging your ex are like a rondwate.”
“Mom, “Will support. “You don’t know anything
chest tightand “Nothing,”
Will’s tace darkened. “You talked to her,” he said, glaring at me “What did you say to be?”
“You said something to her, didn’t you? Made her think something’s going on. She wonbila‘) talk to Charlotte like that otherwise, ‘
“I didn’t say a wond to your mother. Maybe she just sees things clearly”
sharlotte turged at Will’s sleeve: “Will, don’t be mad. Maybe she disha’t meanto..”
charlotte imply that have something to do with lus?
He pulled his am away from her and walked tow and me. “Why do you always twist things, Anna have been kind to you and your daughter TM “Our daughter and I didn’t post athing. Why are you accusing of such a thing?”
obvious know you don’t like her, and you want to make everyone hate her?” will glared at me, but
“I didn’t say a word, Will.”
Will seated.
cecourse you didn’t.” he said. “It’s always someone else’s Laut. You are just jealous of her.”
Charlotte stepped closer to him “will, let’s just go. This is uncomfortable for everyone.”
will didn’t look at me again. He grabbed his carloeys “Come on.
Charlotte took Evelyn’s hand. They walked out the door.
Susan sat down. She sipped her tea like nothing bad happened. As it her son bringing hame his ex didn’t bother her at all, She shook her head. “You really can’t keep your husbanit, can you?”
My hands tightened around my pure strap
“You let that woman push her way back into his life. You let him bring her arou
it’s nommal,” she continued.
You should go home now. I expect some improvement the next time you visit, Luna came in with a flower she picked from the garden
Ama”
“For you, Grandma.”
Sun smiled
“Tuzeliyou, darling ”
med to Luna, who looked confused and a little scared. reached out for her hand. “Let’s go home, tweelle.
