Chapter 2

June grumbled under her breath, "Grandma Valda is the best. She always has snacks and candy with her.

"If it weren't for worrying about disturbing Grandpa and Grandma Valda, there's no way I'd come back just to see you!"

She slammed the door and stormed into her room, running away from me just like Samson did.

I set my bowl aside and quietly finished off the soup, washing it down with a cup of water.

After nearly forty years of marriage, the weight on my back felt heavier every day.

I spent years washing Addison's feet, chipping away at Samson's mortgage, and letting June hop on my back and play horse.

Now that I was old, I was still stuck doing laundry, cooking, and even cleaning up after Addison's old flame.

After a lifetime spent bent over backwards, I doubted my back would ever straighten again.

After finishing the soup, I set the bowl neatly on the table.

I took off my clothes, went into the bedroom, and sat down on the bed.

I had no idea how much time had gone by before the front door was opened again.

Valda came in, humming happily, being all cute, and begging Addison to pick her up.

Music started up in the living room. Addison just smiled and watched Valda spin around like a kid, looking totally smitten.

The dance music played for a good ten minutes before stopping. Addison came over to the bedroom door, clearly tired, and said, "What's up with you?

"You didn't wash the dishes, and you didn't help June with her homework. If Valda sees this, she's going to get upset."

"It's been ages since June called me Grandma," I murmured.

I peeled up my shirt, fingers trembling as I tried to stick the medicine patch onto my aching back.

Addison came over and took a seat beside me, silent.

He massaged my lower back, his touch just as familiar and steady as ever, never too hard, never too soft.

Addison said, "You're old enough to know better. Why are you acting like a sulky kid? June is just..."

"She just prefers Valda. June only calls her Grandma," I retorted.

Addison's hand stilled on my back, sighing with resignation. "Kyla, do we really have to go through this again?"

He saw right through my sarcasm, eyebrows knitted tight, looking honestly baffled by my attitude.

In the end, he blamed it all on that bottle of medicine getting knocked over.

He said, "Valda can't miss a single dose of her meds. I was just anxious, so I said those things without thinking them through. Why do you have to get so hung up on it?

"You know she doesn't have much time left."

A lump rose in my throat, and my hands trembled as I gripped the sheets. It hit me then that I was already crying.

"I told her just to leave it. But she wouldn't listen. She insisted on messing with the medicine and bumping right into the table!" I choked out.

"Kyla, she's sick. You know that!" Addison cut in.

Addison just stared at me, looking totally let down.

By then, my tears had mostly dried up.

I pulled my shirt down and turned my back to him.

I thought bitterly, 'No, Addison, you don't get it.

'The way you're massaging me—you're hitting Valda's sore spot, not mine.'

Just then, June burst into the room, arms full of homework.

Without giving me a chance to protest, she grabbed my hand. "Hey, dummy. Help me with my homework."

Samson's wife, Alice Harding, shuffled in after her and complained, "Mom, why did you put my shirt in the washing machine?

"I told you this shirt should only be hand-washed. Don't you know I have a meeting tonight? Now it's a wrinkled mess. How am I supposed to wear it?"

Everyone was clamoring, all trying to get my attention at once.

They kept drifting in and out, frowning at the mess all around the house.

But not a single one actually stopped for a second.

Everything in the house required my attention.

Everyone in this household required my care.

I didn't feel like saying a word. Addison seemed to pick up on it. He gently took June by the hand and led her out of the room.

"Come on, don't get Grandma upset. How about I take you and Grandma Valda out for some fun?" Addison said.

June perked right up, practically skipping her way over to Valda.

Alice gave me a complicated look.

But in the end, she just grabbed her car keys and headed out without another word.

The chaos came and went in a flash.

The only light in the room came from my phone screen.

Addison called from the doorway, "Don't forget to clean the pot. Valda wants chicken soup tonight."

He never considered my feelings during the entire conversation.