Lily nodded and hugged the cookie box against her chest.
At home, I got them bathed, changed into pajamas, and settled on the couch with a movie. Then I went into the kitchen, opened Vanessa’s photo, and saw the dining room wrecked.
The tablecloth was stained. Chairs had been shoved back. One plate lay broken on the floor. My nephew Carter sat against the wall with a towel around his shoulders. My niece Madison was crying into her mother’s lap. My mother was on a stretcher near the front door, surrounded by paramedics.
Vanessa had written: Look what you did.
I stared at the words for a long time.
Then I typed back: Your children got sick because the food was bad. My children were humiliated because you are cruel. Those are two different things.
She answered immediately.
You abandoned us.
I looked into the living room. Noah and Lily were sitting under one blanket, sharing the cookies from Rosie’s Kitchen. Lily gave Noah the larger one without being asked.
