Page 44 of The Family Guest

“Did he find anything wrong with her?” Like she’s mental? Or has a fatal disease?

“No, she’s in excellent physical health.”

“Did he give her any meds?”

“Just a prescription for birth control pills. The same as yours.”

“Why does she need birth control?” So she can screw my boyfriend?

“She told Dr. Lefferman she got bad menstrual cramps.”

Liar! She’d never complained once about her period.

“Did she need anything else?” Like risperidone, for one.

“Actually, he also recommended CBD.”

“For what?”

“She told him that being in a foreign country alone and in a brand-new school sometimes gave her anxiety attacks and she had a hard time sleeping.”

I bristled. She probably just wanted to get high with Lance, then screw him. The only thing that might give her anxiety was the possibility of our dog attacking her, or me throwing her into the deep end of the pool and holding her head down. Otherwise, she was fearless. Hell, she even took my car on a joyride without asking.

As if my mom had read my mind, she said, “The poor thing feels terrible about borrowing and crashing your car.”

Yeah, right. Believe me, I didn’t expect an apology anytime soon.

She went on to explain the “extenuating” circumstances. I pretended to be forgiving. But the truth was I hated Tanya more than ever. If I had a voodoo doll and some pins, I would name it Tanya and stab it a million times.

A few minutes later, we found a simple recipe for minestrone soup we both liked. I stayed seated while my mother brought everything we needed to the island. An armload of assorted vegetables plus some cutting boards, knives, and peelers.

“What do you want me to do?” I asked, unable to recall the last time I’d offered to help my mom. And, surprise, it didn’t kill me to ask. In fact, it felt good.

My mom gave me an appreciative smile. “It would be great if you helped chop up the veggies. Just be careful not to cut off a finger.”

I couldn’t help a little laugh. “Don’t worry…If I can handle a sculpting knife, I can handle a kitchen knife.”

Sitting side by side, we got to work. It was the closest I’d been to my mother in ages and we were doing something together, other than bickering. It actually felt nice. And cutting up the veggies was relaxing. Both of us chopping, I felt her gaze on me.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I absolutely love the bust you sculpted of me.”

“You found it?”

“Yes. When we got back from the hospital yesterday. I put it in my office on my desk. I’m sorry, I meant to thank you.” Putting down her knife, she turned to give me a kiss on my cheek. I was surprised by how much I appreciated it. How much it warmed me. Maybe if Tanya wasn’t here, there’d be a chance for me and my mom to grow closer. Really bond.

“It’s okay,” I said with a smile. “You had a lot on your plate.”

My mom huffed out a breath. “That’s an understatement. Thank goodness Tanya is okay.”

Too bad she isn’t, I silently retorted as I peeled an onion. It was making my sensitive blue eyes water.

“Darling, are you crying?”

Tears leaking, I nodded.

“Sweetheart, please don’t be upset about Tanya. She’s going to be fine.”

I actually had to bite down on my bottom lip to stifle a laugh. Or a snort. My mother was so clueless. Time to fill her in.