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What is wrong with me?

Why does everyone go?

“Savannah,” Vanessa said “You have to listen to ems hidden in this house We could find them You and I We could—”

“Where have you been?” Savannah interrupted “All these years?”

Vanessa’s eyes grew colder, harder, the charade of the loving absenteeon to add, “But I was always thinking of you I tried to come back, I tried—”

Savannah felt hollow Lies All she’d get from her own mother were lies

“Why are you here now?” Matt asked

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Vanessa answered

“My father is Joel Woods,” he said and Vanessa’s eyes flared, her face growing older, uglier every minute

“Did you steal those gems from Joel and hide them here?” Savannah asked

Vanessa jaw clenched “No—”

“You’re lying”

“I swear—”

“Get out!” Savannah yelled “Get out of here That man is in jail and he’s twice the person you are He stayed with his son Taught him how to play cards and ry What did you do, Mom? Twenty years I waited for you!”

“I swear to you, Savannah I didn’t steal those gems”

“I can’t believe a word you say”

“Fine Maybe we should wake Margot up and ask her if she knows about the gems,” Vanessa said

“I’ the belt on her robe “And I’ve called the police”

Vanessa jerked at that, but Matt held on tight

“I told you, you weren’t welcoo I said if you left these children here, you weren’t to come back”

“They’re my kids!” Vanessa cried

“Stop pretending you’re here foryou care If you cared, you’d have never left”