Chapter 1
On my way to drop my grandson, Lucas Clark, off at kindergarten, my son David called.
He told me my ex-husband, Frank, had been in a car accident.
"Mom," David said, "Dad's in bad shape. The doctor says he might never walk again."
I stopped in my tracks. "What does that have to do with me?"
David hesitated on the other end. "His wife took off with all his money. I want to bring him home. Can you help look after him?"
I didn't even think twice. "No.
"He cheated on me, and to kick me out with nothing, he almost drove me crazy.
"For all these years, he hasn't cared about you and your sister at all.
"There's no way I'm taking care of him."
Rage surged through me, and the pain from those days still felt as sharp as ever.
"It's been twenty years, Mom. Why do you keep holding onto this? Can't you move on?
"He's our dad, after all. Forgive him for us, okay?" David sighed.
I laughed out of anger. "Forgive him? Never, ever."
"Mom, have some sympathy. Dad's going to be stuck in bed for the rest of his life. Isn't it time to let it go?
"And if Emily and I don't do anything, how will people see us? You have to think about us."
I tightened my grip on Lucas's hand, my heart aching sharply.
"You can bring him home if you want. I'll move back to the old house," I said.
That was the biggest compromise I could make.
David panicked. "What are you talking about? If you're not here, who's going to take care of Dad?
"Emily and I both have our own families and jobs. We don't have time to take care of him."
I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my anger in check.
"We've been divorced for twenty years. Why should I take care of him?" I retorted.
David's voice grew increasingly impatient. "Because he's our dad and your ex-husband.
"Now that he's down on his luck, what's wrong with you taking care of him?"
A chill spread through my chest.
"You two can be as filial as you want, but don't drag me into this mess," I said.
With that, I hung up.
Seeing how upset I was, Lucas gently patted my hand.
His voice was sweet. "Grandma, don't be mad."
I forced a smile, then dropped him off at kindergarten.
After calming down a bit, I turned around and headed to the grocery store.
Before long, my daughter, Emily Hoffman, called me.
"Mom, I heard you fought with David. Honestly, at your age, how come you still get so worked up?" she said.
A wave of grievance welled up in me, but I held back.
"Your dad and I have been divorced for twenty years," I explained. "Now he's in a car accident and paralyzed, and David wants me to take care of him. How can I not be angry?"
I thought Emily would understand my pain, but all she did was sigh.
"David was right," she said. "We can't turn our backs on Dad. Otherwise, what would people say?
"Even if you hate him, you should let it go by now. It's been twenty years, after all.
"Now, he's bedridden and can't do anything to you anymore. Can't you take care of him for our sake?"
Before I could respond, she continued, "David and I have to work; we can't be there watching over him every day.
"We're not like you, retired with a steady pension coming in every month.
"Things are tough right now. After the mortgage and car payments each month, our salaries barely cover the basics. We can't afford to hire a caregiver for Dad.
"You have so much free time now. Why not look after Dad while you're at it?"
My lips trembled with anger. "You think I'm sitting around with nothing to do?
"Buying groceries, cooking, doing laundry, mopping the floors, picking up the kids—none of that counts as work to you?
"Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, I'm David's maid. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, I'm yours.
"On Sundays, I have to watch both kids so you and David can have time with your partners.
"And you call that free?"
Emily cut me off, annoyed. "Every mom does this stuff. Why do you complain so much?"
My nose prickled, my voice shaky. "Fine. I'm your mom, so I guess all this is my job.
"But I don't owe your dad anything. There's no way I'm taking care of him."
"But you owe us," Emily shot back without hesitation.
My heart dropped to my stomach. "What do you mean by that?"
"I know it was hard raising David and me alone. But why couldn't you put up with Dad's cheating back then?
"If you had, Dad might not have divorced you. David and I could have had a real family, and we wouldn't have had to struggle with you all those years.
"If Dad had given David and me a little of his money, we wouldn't be in such a tough spot now," Emily complained.
I listened, trembling all over.
"Every other kid gets financial help from their parents when they get married. But David and I had to start from nothing."
Every word she spoke hit me like a heavy stone, straight to the heart.