Chapter 2

I wiped away my tears, feeling completely wrecked, and marched over to confront Charles and Frank, determined to get answers. But as I got closer, I overheard them arguing.

Charles snapped, "I told you from the start. If you wanted to give Mom's pension to Aunt May, you couldn't drag Rachel into it as your excuse. But you wouldn't listen.

"Well, are you satisfied now? You messed things up so badly, and even my baby ended up paying the price."

Frank's breathing grew heavier. "May's all alone, with no pension, nobody to look out for her. If I don't make arrangements for her, who else will?

"Honestly, your wife's not exactly a catch. Why would she insist on having a postpartum doula?

"And when we didn't agree, she went ahead and ended the pregnancy without a second thought. She clearly doesn't give a damn about you."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Frank gave my pension to his old flame, May Williams, and made me believe it was with Rachel?

Charles sighed, sounding clearly annoyed. "Rachel really doesn't know any better. Why can't the two women in our family be more like Aunt May?

"It's Aunt May's birthday today, and after hearing about Rachel's mess, she's understanding. She said she didn't mind us showing up late."

I was shaking all over, my heart twisting in pain.

Charles knew Frank had given my pension to May, but he still went along with his dad's lie, telling me it was with Rachel.

All those years of misunderstanding between Rachel and me, because of their lies, ended up costing my poor grandbaby his life. And now they wanted to go celebrate that sly homewrecker's birthday?

I didn't hesitate. I hopped in a cab to a print shop nearby and got some banners made.

Then, I swung by the labor market to pick up a few burly guys and two sharp-tongued women. Making a ruckus all the way, we stormed straight over to May's place.

The banners were bright red with bold yellow letters, impossible to miss.

They read: [May Williams, old as she is, is still a homewrecker!

[Stealing the wife's pension, has she no shame?]

*****

May lived in an old alley where everyone knew each other.

When I caused such a commotion, the neighbors who had no clue what was happening all came over to check it out.

"Hey, what's going on?" someone asked.

The two quick-tongued young women I hired grabbed the megaphones they'd brought and started shouting.

"Hey, neighbors, is there any justice left in this world?"

"Come on, help us out here. This old schemer has been holding onto the card my aunt's pension goes to for five whole years. My aunt had thought it had been with her daughter-in-law."

"She's really something, isn't she? Even at her age, she's making more than those hostesses. My aunt's pension is over 3,000 dollars a month. And this old hag doesn't feel guilty about taking all that money."

"Because she held onto the pension, someone lost their life, and yet she still has the nerve to celebrate her birthday. People like her deserve to go to hell."

The crowd's expressions grew complicated.

"Hold on. How did your pension end up in May's hands?"

"No wonder May has been living the good life these past few years, always showing off to us. Now it all makes sense."

The noise outside finally caught the attention of the three in the yard.

Charles stepped out, cake smeared all over his face, grinning ear to ear. "Aunt May, let's enjoy ourselves. Why care about all that commotion outside? Didn't you say you'd dance with Dad? Are you trying to bail on us?"

Frank carefully helped May. "Take it easy. If you throw your back out, I'll be the one paying for it."

But when Charles saw the banners at the door and me standing there with a frosty expression, his smile froze. "Mom, why aren't you at the hospital taking care of Rachel? What are you doing here?"

It was one thing to hear about something, but seeing it with my own eyes? That was a whole different story.

Watching the three of them having such a good time together really stabbed me right in the heart.