“You’re lying.” My blood went cold. “Jake has never sat in that kitchen crying at night.”
“Rachel.” Deb frowned at me. “Let her finish.”
The whole thing flipped in one breath. The more I talked, the more I was the mean wife. The more she cried, the more she was the mother who loved too hard.
Diane wiped her eyes and walked over to Jake. She took his hand.
“Son, I need one thing from you today. Is this still your home? If you tell me it isn’t, I’ll walk out that gate right now. And I won’t ever come back.”
The yard got so quiet you could hear the ice melting in the glasses.
Everybody was waiting for Jake.
He looked at me. Then at his mother. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Tears were still hanging from Diane’s chin. But I could see it — her eyes were dry.
