I kept my eyes closed and forced myself to stay still.
What my daughter said next made my heart drop.
You need to hear what she says.
“She already had her chance with you,” Lisa said. “That accident proved she can’t keep you safe.”
“What does that mean?” Walter asked.
“It means you won’t be staying with her much longer.”
My fingers twitched beneath the blanket.
That accident proved she can’t keep you safe.
Walter’s voice was suddenly small. “I’m going home with Granny.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
Lisa sighed. “Walter, she’s getting older. She can barely see. She shouldn’t even have been driving.”
“She has glasses.”
You won’t be staying with her much longer.
“Clearly they didn’t help much, did they?”
I felt my pulse jump.
Lisa went on, quieter now. “Soon everything will be where it should’ve been years ago.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll understand later.”
She’s getting older.
“Why can’t you just tell me?”
“Because you’re nine.”
“So?”
“So stop asking questions.”
I heard her handbag zip shut.
Everything will be where it should’ve been years ago.
Then her footsteps moved toward the door.
Before leaving, she said, “You should start getting used to the idea of living with me.”
The door closed.
I waited.
Walter touched my arm. “She’s gone.”
Stop asking questions.
My eyes opened. “What the hell was that?”
“That wasn’t the first time she said it.”
“How many times?”
“I don’t know. A lot.”
“Walter.”
That wasn’t the first time.
“Maybe four? Five?”
“While I was unconscious?”
He nodded.
“What exactly did she say?”
“That you might not wake up. And even if you did, I probably couldn’t live with you anymore.”
Maybe four? Five?
“Why?”
“She said because you’re old.”
“I’m sixty one!”
“I told her that.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
I probably couldn’t live with you anymore.
Walter went on, “She said your eyes were bad, too. And that the accident proved you couldn’t take care of me.”
