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Music blared in the living room as I sat on the end of the couch near the la design for Davina and Astrid They hadn’t asked for it, but after taking a thorough inventory of their likes and dislikes as seen in their aparts Just in case

Unfortunately, I likeduntil Dermot and my mom strode inside

Adrenaline flooded me when I saw my mother, and I fumbled forthe intensity of my mom’s expression

Dermot closed the front door behind him

Oh, shit

My stomach flipped unpleasantly

Apart froood She was tall and slender and looked young in her skinny jeans, Blondie T-shirt, and suede jacket There was no gray in her dark, shoulder-length hair so I knew she dyed it because I’d started getting gray in mine when I enty-nine

Her hazel eyes met my blue ones and fear held me frozen in place by the couch

That look in her eyes, the one she’d had when she’d spoken to me last, was still there All these years and it had never faded

“What are you doing here?” My eyes flicked to Dermot

“How dare you?” Mom seethed “How dare you stand in my house and ask that?”

“Mom” Dermot put his hand on her shoulder “You said it was time to talk to her So let’s talk”

“Your father came to see me the other day” Mo with unshed tears “You turned hiainst me”

“What?” I shookabout?”

“Don’t play stupid, Dahlia You’re the reason our e fell apart You’re the reason my life turned to shit!”