Chapter 3

Rachel's fury exploded. "Sweetheart, put it on speaker."

I did as she asked.

Rachel snapped, "Fuck you, Margaret, you piece of shit. You're old as hell. How can you be so shameless? If you're so eager to show off those saggy tits of yours, go feed the dogs with them. Why the hell are you messing with my grandson?

"The Wilson family is a bunch of lunatics. The old ones are perverts, and the young ones are worthless. You've got some nerve calling me to complain. Let me tell you something—you picked the wrong woman to mess with.

"I've lived over fifty years, and I've never heard of a grandmother breastfeeding her grandson. What kind of fucked-up family tradition is that? You want my grandson drinking the pus from your chest?"

I'd warned Charles not to call Rachel, but he wouldn't listen. Now he was paying for it—once Rachel got going, there was no stopping her.

The three Wilsons stood there with red faces and couldn't say a word back.

After more than ten minutes, Rachel showed no signs of slowing down. I finally jumped in. "Mom, that's enough. Lucas is still in his room. I'm going to take him home soon."

Rachel said, "Good. Bring Lucas over right away before he catches any more bad luck from that house."

I hung up the phone and turned to Andrew with ice in my voice. "I told you from the start. Your mother wasn't allowed to see Lucas. You didn't listen. I don't care if this is the second time or the tenth time, I'm done. Get ready for the divorce."

I didn't wait for his answer. I walked straight to the bedroom, packed my things, and got Lucas ready to leave.

When I came out with my suitcase, Andrew stood there staring at Lucas and me. He opened his mouth but didn't say anything. It was obvious he wanted us to stay.

I couldn't stand looking at his pathetic face. I picked up Lucas, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the door.

"Babe, you're really leaving? Come on, isn't this a bit much? You hit me, you yelled at me—isn't that enough?" He finally cracked and grabbed my suitcase just as I reached the door.

"No. I said we're getting divorced." I kept pulling the suitcase toward the door, trying to shake him off.

That was when Margaret's shrill voice cut through from the living room. "Lucas, don't stop her. Let her go. She always threatens to run home to mommy, just ignore her. Give her two days and she'll come crawling back."

Andrew actually let go after hearing that. "Okay babe, go home for a couple days then. Come back soon though."

"You're insane." I really thought he'd lost his mind.

By the time Lucas and I got to my parents' house, Rachel was already waiting at the door.

She immediately scooped Lucas up and held him tight. "Oh baby, did they hurt you?"

Lucas was too young to understand what had really happened today. He just knew that grandma made him do something that made me really angry.

He curled up in Rachel's arms and looked at me nervously. "Mommy, I'm sorry. I won't listen to grandma anymore."

Seeing him like that broke my heart. "Lucas, tell mommy something. Have you seen grandma before today?"

"Yes." His voice came out small and shaky, full of guilt.

When I heard his answer, Rachel and I both tensed up.

Rachel said, "Lucas, come tell me. Has your other grandmother given you milk to drink before?"

Lucas shook his head. "Today was the first time. Mommy, I'm sorry. I did something wrong, and I won't drink it again."