The Woman Who Reclaimed Life

ahead. I wanted the element of surprise on my side. When I pulled into the fam

ise that quickly morphed into a beaming smile. "Chl

nd wanted to say hi," I lied smoothly

ing her hand dismissively as she led me inside.

straight for the one thing that mattered to her. "Honey, you know, that twenty thousand was a huge help, trul

seat on the couch I' d bought for

. maybe it would be better if you just gave us a bit more, to make sure it gets done right.

. "Mom, I just gave you twenty thousand dollars. My saving

It's just... I regret not pushing you to buy this house for us years ago instead of just helping with the

rked. I would have felt ashamed, selfish. Now, I just saw the gears turning, the pure, unadult

you set up, the one for emergencies. Why don't you let your father and me manage that for you? We have a friend who's a financial a

nted control. She wanted access to ev

it, Mom," I said

ed haphazard, not like a professional job. It looked like someone had just taken a crowbar to a few cabinets to make it look convincing. While she

ut my hand on the knob a

ong moment, the cold metal of the doorknob under my hand. I didn't need to see inside. I already knew wha

, at the woman who gave birth to me, and I saw a stranger. A predator. The last bit of warmth I might have held for