“Brilliant of you", she seethed, “To think I would befriend an invalid".

I raised a brow. I knew that. The fact that she hadn't figured out that I was trying to bait her showed how important the person was. And that made me all the more curious.

“What's wrong with making..." Emile's voice trailed off at my mom's death glare. We hadn't noticed when she came back in. The tray of oranges shook in her hands. I watched my mother closely. Emile had spoken out of turn. She had become used to speaking freely to me. But I was not going to let my mother pick on her.

“Mom". I...