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As Carla stood in the driveway watching Brian’s car disappear down the street, for a split second, she considered trashing her plans.Then she told herself she was doing the right thing.Brian had lied to her, lost most of their money, and put his children’s lives in danger.The only way for Carla to take the kids away from their father was to convince herself that he was so self-destructive and selfish that he’d eventually forget about them and move on with his life.

Carla walked through each room of the house, a house she treasured.As soon as she saw the MLS listing, she knew it would be the perfect place to raise their kids.She spent days picking out the paint colors and even longer choosing the furniture.Tears streamed down her face as she realized she was sadder about leaving her home than she was about leaving her husband.

She needed to stay busy; otherwise, she might’ve reverted to an old habit that started in middle school.When Carla felt anxious over an upcoming test, she’d pull hairs from her eyebrows.Starting a new life with no eyebrows would not make the best impression.

Carla got out three suitcases and packed them full of the girl’s clothes and her own.She selected very few sweaters because they wouldn’t need them in Los Angeles.

After Carla had packed as much as would fit in the suitcases, she took the girls to her mom’s house.Beverly had breast cancer, and her prognosis wasn’t good, so Carla knew that she’d never see her mother alive again.Although they had never been close, Carla still wanted to say goodbye, even if Beverly didn’t know that’s what was happening.

“Grammy,” the girls yelled as they ran toward Beverly who sat in a recliner chair watching a soap opera on TV.The sound was loud and intrusive, causing everyone to shout.

“Remember, girls, it’s not Grammy, it’s Glammy,” Beverly said, reaching for her oxygen tank and attaching the tube under her nose.Any word that sounded like Grandma was a curse word to her.

She wore a scarf around her head and a housecoat that seemed to be two sizes too big.Beverly held her arms stiffly at her sides, and then, as the girls got close to her, she turned away as if they had a swarm of killer bees attached to their shirts.Carla was amazed that the girls greeted Beverly with such affection even though it wasn’t returned.

“Cookies, Glammy?”Morgan asked.

“There’s some on the counter in the kitchen, but don’t eat them all.”Morgan and Charlie ran to the kitchen.Beverly turned to Carla.“Those girls are going to get fat if all they care about is sweets.”

Carla had learned to ignore her mother’s snide comments.“How’re you feeling, Mom?”Carla asked, sitting down on the couch next to her.

“I have cancer.What do you think?”Beverly said.“You don’t bring those girls to see me much.”

“You’re dealing with a lot; I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you.”

“Good point.Besides, I’m no fun anymore,” Beverly said.

Were you ever?Carla thought.

Carla listened to Beverly describe every detail of her treatment.Morgan and Charlie returned, each chomping on one cookie and holding another one.

“Girls, we’re going to get lunch soon,” Carla said.

“We’ll be hungry,” Morgan said.

“We love to eat,” Charlie said.

Beverly raised her eyebrows at Carla, who pretended not to notice.

“Mom, we don’t have a lot of time today.We’re going to have to get going,” Carla said.

“I get it; no one likes to be around someone in pain.”

Morgan and Charlie ran to the front door, waving as they left.Carla hugged her mother goodbye, which felt as warm as holding a concrete slab.

Next, Carla took the girls to the pizza parlor to see Antonio.He had always been able to read her even better than Brian could, so she needed to make sure he couldn’t see how painful this goodbye would be for her.

During the past couple of years, she’d confided in Antonio that Brian had some issues, and at times, she feared for her family’s safety.Antonio stewed in anger over what she had told him.He respected her enough not to get involved when she asked him not to.The only time she’d introduced him to Brian, she had sensed that Antonio wanted to hit him, so she had suggested they take their pizza to go.

Today, she did her best to smile and be her happier self.She thought she had been doing a good job until Antonio asked her if she was okay.She said she was fine, just fighting a cold.That was the first lie she’d ever told him.

While Carla and Antonio visited, the girls stuffed themselves with garlic rolls and pizza.Carla held back her tears when she said goodbye to him until she got in the car.The moment she sat behind the wheel, the immenseness of everything flooded her like a dam breaking.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?You’re crying,” Morgan said.

“Did you get a boo-boo?”Charlie asked.

“Yes,” Carla said.“My heart is hurting right now.”