Chapter 3
The next day, I called Anna into the living room.
She was already packing up her stuff.
Her backpack was stuffed with a tablet, headphones, a charger, and two comic books.
She only packed three textbooks.
I didn't bother taking anything out for her.
I slid a sheet of paper over to her.
"Here's a checklist," I said.
She frowned.
Anna muttered, "Again?"
I said, "It's not a command, just a reminder.
"Two sets of school uniforms.
"Admission letter.
"Medical insurance card.
"Allergy medicine.
"Spare glasses case.
"Summer prep materials for the gifted class."
Anna said impatiently, "It's not like Grandma's place doesn't have everything I need."
I looked at her.
"You don't have to bring it," I said.
"But if you lose it, forget it, or mess things up because of it, that's on you," I said.
Anna hesitated, her lips twitching.
In the end, she took the checklist.
On Friday afternoon, Anna burst through the door as soon as she got home from school.
"Mom, let's go," Anna said.
Anna was the one who dragged her suitcase out herself.
The wheels of her pink suitcase clattered loudly across the floor.
She didn't even look back at her desk.
She didn't even glance at the study schedule I'd stuck on her wall.
I tucked the last packet of medicine into her backpack.
"Take this if your stomach hurts," I said.
"The instructions are inside," I added.
She gave a half-hearted nod.
"Got it," she said.
I passed her an envelope.
"These are copies of your school paperwork for this semester," I said.
"Hand these to your dad," I added.
She took it, like it was just some useless ad flyer.
"Mom, you're making such a big deal out of this," Anna said.
"I'm just staying at Grandma's for a while. It's not like I'm never coming back," Anna added.
I helped her close the suitcase.
"Yeah," I replied.
In the elevator, Anna kept her head down, texting someone.
Her lips curled up in a smile the whole time.
I stood beside her and caught a glimpse of the contact name flashing on her screen.
It was "Dad."
Her fingers flew across the screen as she typed.
Anna: [We're heading down.]
Anna: [Mom didn't cry.]
Anna: [She really agreed.]
James replied almost instantly.
James: [Good girl.]
James: [From now on, Dad's got you.]
I looked away.
By the time we pulled up outside James's building, it was already getting dark.
Grace was already waiting at the door.
She was wearing a red coat and holding a cup of iced latte.
"My sweet granddaughter, you're finally here," Grace said.
Anna dragged her suitcase over and ran straight to her.
Grace pulled her into a tight hug, then turned to me.
"Just look at her, she's all skin and bones after staying with you," Grace said.
"Now that she's with me, no one's going to tell her what to do," Grace added.
Anna took the iced latte, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Grandma, you're the best," Anna said.
James came out of the house.
When he saw me, there was a look of smug satisfaction on his face, like someone who'd just won.
"Just drop off her stuff," he said.
"You should head back early," he added.
I handed him the envelope.
"Sign the document," I said.
James took it slowly.
"Do you really have to make such a scene?" he asked.
"If you don't sign it, I'm not leaving," I said.
Mary came out of the living room.
She was wearing a loose house dress, one hand resting on her waist.
Her baby bump was already pretty obvious.
Anna's smile froze for a second.
She never said anything to me about Mary being pregnant.
James didn't mention it to her either.
Mary walked over with a smile.
"Anna, you're here," Mary said.
"Perfect timing. Things are about to get a lot more lively around here," Mary said.
Grace chimed in immediately.
"You said it," Grace agreed.
"Once your little brother's born, Anna, you'll be the big sister," Grace added.
"Girls have to learn to look after others sooner or later," Grace said.
Anna stood by the door, holding her iced latte.
She glanced at me.
There was still a hint of smugness in her eyes.
But now, there was also a touch of emptiness in her gaze.
I didn't speak up for her.
I didn't stand up for her either.
I pushed the suitcase toward her.
"Go on in," I said.
She bit her lip.
In the end, she dragged her suitcase inside.
Just as the door was about to close, she glanced back at me.
There was still that stubborn look in her eyes, like she wasn't about to back down.
It was as if she was saying, "See? I told you I'd win."
I nodded.
The door shut behind her.
Now, I was alone in the hallway.
I turned away and pressed the elevator button.
Before the elevator doors opened, I heard Grace's voice from inside.
"Anna, stop playing for now," Grace called out.
"Go prep the vegetables in the kitchen," she added.
"Mary's back isn't doing so well," Grace explained.
The elevator doors slowly slid shut.
I could hear Anna's voice from inside.
"But Grandma, I haven't done my homework yet," Anna said.
Grace chuckled.
"Homework can wait when you're at Grandma's," Grace said.