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"Sorry we didn’t keep you informed about our busy lives," Shelly said

Deborah turned on her in a flash "I’ to put up with any shit from you so you can knock that off"

Shelly shut herwide, mouth pulled down in mock surprise Like, Lah-di-dah, the nerve Did you hear what she just said?

Gregthat he’d take care of it

At least he was starting to stand up to her, Deborah thought Watching them, she felt like she’d developed X-ray vision She could see all the little nuances in their co emotion to throw her off balance This was like the children’s gauy holding the bag

Greg said, "So where’s Rain? Shawn’s been looking forward to seeing her"

"I’ did you plan to stay?"

"Couple of days Depends You knoe haven’t decided yet"

Shelly cupped a hand to heran aside that no one else could hear "Notice how she’s ducking the subject of Rain," she said to Greg

Deborah kept her voice in a singsong range, as though speaking to a child "Well, Shelly--oh, excuse me I meant Destiny What is there to say? We didn’t think you were interested in Rain There was never a letter or a phone call and not a penny of support for her The child is ours now"

"What, like you gave birth to her? News to me"

Deborah didn’t think it was possible to loathe another hu more than she’d loathed Shelly in the past, but apparently, there were untapped reservoirs of hostility that Deborah could call upon at will "We adopted her We went through the court systehts were terminated That’s what they do when parents abandon a baby at the age of five days"