The legs scraped loudly against the hardwood floor.
“You’ve poisoned my son against his own family.”
“I stopped him from making a bad investment.”
She crossed the room before I realized what she intended to do.
Then she slapped me.
Once.
My cheek stung.
Ethan jumped to his feet.
“Mom!”
She struck me again.
Then once more.
I didn’t retaliate.
I didn’t yell.
I simply stood there.
Diane leaned toward me.
“You’re trash,” she said. “My son could have done so much better.”
Then she turned her attention toward Lily.
My little girl was standing beside the Christmas tree, clutching her stuffed rabbit with both hands.
Diane pointed at her.
“Take that trash with you and get out.”
Something inside me became completely calm.
I looked at Ethan.
His expression had changed.
He wasn’t trying to calm everyone down anymore.
He wasn’t negotiating.
He was finished.
