LITMIR.BIZ

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slowly to ten so she wouldn’t say something that would completely fracture her relationship with Malcolm and Zoe’s grandmother, Angela took deep breaths. “You seem to forget that your grandson and daughter are my children and as such I decide where they live and who they see. You raised your son, and now please let me raise mine.”

      Much to Angela’s surprise, Joyce’s eyes filled with tears, and suddenly she felt remorse for speaking so harshly. But they had reached a point in their relationship when Joyce sought to control her life and those of her children as she’d done with Justin, who’d sometimes joked that his father died just to get away from his mother’s constant nagging. That no one could make Joyce happy even if they gave her everything she’d ever wanted. And it wasn’t for the first time that Angela blamed herself for selling the house her parents had given her and Justin as a wedding gift, after they moved to Florida to teach at a historically black university.

      Two months before she was scheduled to give birth she’d put the house where she’d grown up with her brother on the market to move in with Joyce. Now, in hindsight, she realized it was an action based on impulse and not common sense. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been more than aware of Justin’s mother’s controlling personality, but at that time she’d been vulnerable and had allowed the woman to make all her decisions for her.

      Grieving the loss of her husband and giving birth to twins had proved overwhelming for a first-time mother. Her mother had taken family leave to come up and stay with her for a month, and after witnessing Joyce’s domineering behavior she’d invited Angela to move to Florida. Even her brother had urged her to relocate to the West Coast to be close to his family, but Angela did not want to leave Wickham Falls because her husband was buried there.

      Reaching for a tissue in a box near a side table, Joyce dabbed her eyes. “I know I can get a little pushy, but my grandkids are all I have left to remind me of my son.”

      Angela felt a pang of guilt that she had to be reminded of Joyce’s loss. Not only had Joyce lost her husband but also her only child. “I know that. But you should realize Malcolm isn’t Justin, and no matter how much you try to mold him into his father’s image he is his own little person.”

      Joyce sniffled softly. “I’m sorry, Angela, if you think I’m trying to raise your children. No one knows better than me that you’re a very good mother, and I’m honored to call you daughter. I suppose I’m overreacting, anticipating not seeing the kids for the summer when they go to Florida to stay with your folks.”

      Rising from the love seat, Angela leaned over and kissed Joyce’s short salt-and-pepper curls. “I’m going upstairs to finish packing. After that I’ll be down to give the kids their bath.”

      A smile parted the older woman’s lips. “Okay.”

      Angela walked off the porch and made her way up the staircase to the second story. She entered her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Flopping down on a cushioned rocker, she pulled her lip between her teeth. It was getting more and more difficult to live under the same roof as her children’s paternal grandmother, whom they adored. There were occasions when she contemplated contacting the local real estate agent to look for a house in The Falls.

      Angela picked up her cell phone and scrolled through her directory until she found Lee’s name. She needed to talk to him if only to stop thinking about what was becoming an escalating situation with her mother-in-law. And he had always been the one she had gone to whenever she and Justin occasionally broke up for weeks, before reconciling as if nothing had happened.

      He picked up after two rings. “What’s up, Angie?” She smiled when she heard his warm greeting.

      “I hope you’ve settled in The Falls House okay.”

      There was a pause before he said, “I’m not staying at The Falls House. I’ve checked in to the Heritage House extended stay off exit 15.”

      A slight frown appeared between her eyes. “Why?”

      There came another pause. “I’ll explain it when I see you in person.”

      “You won’t see me for the next two weeks.”

      “Why?”

      “I’m taking the twins down to Daytona Beach to stay with my folks for the summer. I’ve decided to spend two weeks with them. I should be back by July 2.”

      “How are your parents?”

      “They’re well. This is the first summer they’re going to spend time with their youngest grandchildren.”

      “What about your brother’s kids?”

      Angela kicked off her sandals and rested her feet on a cushioned footstool. “They’re enrolled in a tennis camp for the summer.”

      “How old are they now?”

      “Kendra’s ten and Mariah’s eight.”

      Lee’s chuckle came through the earpiece. “Talk about the second coming of Venus and Serena Williams.”

      It was Angela’s turn to laugh. “Now you sound like my brother.”

      “Are they good, Angie?”

      She nodded. “Yes. In fact, they’re very good.”

      “Well, it looks as if everyone’s doing well.”

      Angela closed her eyes. “Not everyone.”

      “What’s the matter?”

      She heard the concern in Lee’s voice, and decided to be truthful. “I’m not getting along with Justin’s mother.”

      “What’s going on?” Lee asked.

      Angela opened her eyes and stared at a photograph of her and Justin, taken right before he was deployed. She’d just discovered she was pregnant, but was unaware that she was carrying two babies. “She can’t stop meddling in my life. Now that I look back I realize selling my house and moving in with her was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made.”

      “Is it meddling or concern?”

      “Why are you taking her side?”

      “I’m not taking sides, Angela. After all, you’re a widow with two young children, and maybe she’s just being overprotective.”

      “Please don’t get me wrong, Lee. I appreciate all she’s done for me, but I’d like to be able to raise my children without her telling me what I should or shouldn’t do with them.”

      “Have you thought of getting your own place?”

      She smiled. “Lately I have. Even though my parents have been nagging me to move to Florida and buy a house in their gated community, I don’t want to leave The Falls because Justin’s buried here.”

      “If you don’t want to leave The Falls, you should be able to find a house to fit your needs or lifestyle.”

      Angela’s smile grew wider. Lee had just echoed her notion about buying a house in her hometown. “You’re probably right. Once I come back I’m going to contact a real estate agent and see if she has any listings within my price range.” She wasn’t a pauper, and neither was she wealthy. She’d saved most of her earnings from modeling, given half the proceeds from the sale of her parents’ house to them for their future retirement, and invested Justin’s military combat death benefit in a college fund for her children.

      “When are you leaving for Florida?” Lee asked.

      “Tomorrow morning.”

      “Are you flying or driving?”

      “I’m driving. Barring delays it should take about ten hours.”

      “Drive carefully.”

      “I will. And thanks, Lee.”

      “What are you thanking me for?”

      A hint of a smile

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