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“I’m her mother,” she says imperiously

“No, you’re not,” I reply “You gave birth to her but then you abandoned her You’re not her mother”

Lida’s face flushes red and her lips flatten She bares her teeth at end?”

“Not here,” is all I’ to tell her

“When will he be home?” she snaps

“No clue”

I can see this infuriates her, but she’s clearly no du nowhere with entles to an al whine “I didn’t abandon her I was suffering froht mind”

My heart produces a sain her access to Charlie on end feels otherwise, so be it, but he’s not here to make that decision

“Look,” I say kindly, hoping to diffuse what could become a volatile situation “He’s not here and won’t be back until tonight But I do understand the two of you need to talk I think you should call him and set up a time I’ the season”

She regardson inside that brain of hers She weighs estion and the purse of her lips tells me she doesn’t like it But the droop to her shoulders also tellsinto that house right now

“Fine,” she clips and pivots away She takes the steps like a fashion h heels I watch as she walks down the driveway and to a blue economy car parked parallel on the street As she starts to pull away, I text Legend Not eency but Lida was just here I convinced her to leave

I hit send, turn to knock on the door so Lucy will lethome Please stay there

Done, I reply