She walked into the living room, put the bag on the couch, scooped up Sophie, and kissed her. “Sophie, did you miss Grandma? You’re napping upstairs this afternoon. Tonight Grandma makes you little cookies.”
“Sophie’s not going anywhere today.” I walked over and reached for her.
June didn’t let go. She looked at me, voice still soft. “Derek said yes.”
“I don’t care what Derek said. I’m her mother.”
June smiled. She pulled Sophie in tighter. “All I need is what you said the night before last. I haven’t changed a single word—the whole family heard it. You said I poured chili water down your throat. You said I was stealing your child. You said this house was your prison. Listen to yourself. Does that sound like a woman in her right mind?”
“I was telling the truth.”
“The doctor comes tomorrow. You can tell him the truth, nice and slow.” June turned and carried Sophie up the stairs. “Sophie sleeps upstairs this week. Once you’re stable, she comes back down.”
