She Chose Her Nephew Over Her Own Daughter ,Now She's Begging Me to Stay

Patty Wallace chimed in too. "You came back for your mother, didn't you? And now you're making a scene before you've even seen her? You're lucky she's bedridden—if she knew you were acting like this, imagine how heartbroken she'd be."

My voice was flat. "You've got it wrong. I didn't come back to take care of her. I just wanted to see how much time she has left. She gave birth to me and raised me—that counts for something. No matter what happened between us, when she dies, I'll at least see her off."

"You—you—" Howard's finger shook as he pointed at me. "Is that even something a human being says? I'll—I'll beat some sense into you!"

He swung his palm toward my face.

Smack!

My husband caught Howard's wrist, his brow furrowed. "You're all elders here. If you have something to say, say it. Don't raise your hand."

Howard glared at him. "Does she even see me as an elder? Let go of me—I'm going to teach her a lesson today if it's the last thing I do."

My husband said nothing. He just kept his grip locked around Howard's wrist. Howard's face turned beet red from the effort, chest heaving, but he couldn't break free.

"Oh my, what's all this? We're family—why does it have to be like this?" Brenda stepped in, turning a smile toward my husband. "You must be Judy's partner. So handsome! Judy hasn't come home once in five years. We've all been worried sick. But seeing how protective you are of her, well, that puts our minds at ease."

She tilted her head. "Still, you should talk some sense into her. What grudge between a mother and daughter can't be resolved? Her mother is lying in bed right now. How can a daughter say she won't take care of her own mother? Don't you think?"

My husband looked at Brenda, his tone indifferent. "I follow Judy's lead. She makes the decisions in our house."

Brenda's smile vanished, her face hardening. "Now I have to say something about that. You're the man—the head of the household. You should have your own opinions. You can't just let a woman call all the shots."

I let out a dry laugh. "Auntie, you really take your role as an elder seriously, don't you? Even my marriage is your business now. Don't you think you're overstepping?"

Brenda's expression turned cold.

Suddenly, a noise came from inside the room.

Howard, Brenda, Gloria, and Patty acted as though they hadn't heard a thing. Not a flicker of reaction.

I looked at them with a bitter smirk.

Five years ago, when Dad's compensation money came through, they couldn't have been warmer to Mom. Now they'd all gone deaf.

My husband gave my hand a gentle tug. "Let's go in and check on her."

"Okay."

I stepped inside and saw Mom lying on the bed, her right hand extended, trembling without stop.

When she saw me, her mouth opened. "Ah—ah—" Two guttural sounds escaped her throat.

I stood where I was. Didn't move.

She reached toward me with a quivering hand, trying to grab hold of me.

I still didn't move.

"Hh—hh—"

Her breathing turned ragged. Both eyes locked onto me, burning with fury. Not a trace of remorse.

Bang! The door flew open. Howard, Brenda, Gloria, and Patty came rushing in, panicked and frantic.

"Lillian! Lillian, what's wrong?"

"Sis—sis, don't scare me!"

"Call an ambulance—now!"

"Look what you've done! She's your mother! Do you want to drive her to death? Would that make you happy?"

I watched them—some wailing, some scrambling for their phones, some jabbing their fingers at me—and a low laugh slipped out of me.

It was absurd. Like watching a loud, overwrought play.

What was even more absurd was that I'd once been part of the cast.

My husband patted my shoulder and pulled me into his arms.

I tilted my head up to look at him. Only in moments like this did I feel safe. Warm.

"Who's going to sign and pay?"

Outside the operating room, a doctor held out the consent form, looking at us.

Howard. Brenda. Gloria. Patty.

Every single pair of eyes swiveled toward me.