ESTELLE

 

“We should do this often, Mom,” I suggested before we went to our cars waiting for us.

“I’d love that, honey, but I know what you’re doing.”

“I just wanna have dinner with you like we used to.” I’d been avoiding any questions or topics about Linden. I was grateful Mom understood that while we were having dinner.

“Fine, but because I wanted you to enjoy the meal earlier. Call your husband. You can shout at him, hit him, curse him, or let him sleep in the other room, but you can’t avoid him all the time. Soon, you need him.”

“He lied to me and hurt me. If...