Page 116 of A Captive Situation

And then, “AuntMaude?”

Clara pffted, her nose wrinkling before she yanked me to her. “Come here, you. We were starting to get worried. We couldn’t get a hold of you yesterday.”

I glanced back, seeing that Blake had gotten out of the car and come around to my side, but held back. We shared a look because they werestartingto get worried? They hadn’t already been worried?

Clara gave me a last squeeze, muttering into my ear, “We tried keeping the Fourth from coming with us, but we couldn’t shake her. She and your mom hopped a plane yesterday without telling us. It was a whole big awkward surprise when they called from the airport because they didn’t know where to go. Also, why is that car’s window busted?”

My mom was trying to hold back her tears, standing just behind Clara, and she was failing. Maude moved to the other side, overhearing what Clara said. She spoke up, griping, “Why wouldn’t I have come? He’s my son, after all. Of course I’m coming to see my son. I won’t let you start acting like you were the one who wiped his ass and changed his diapers like you do with Phyllis’s daughter here. My son is mine, not yours.”

“Maude!”

“Mom!” Graham was not happy.

Clara had stepped aside, but froze at hearing what her sister just said.

My mom froze too, horrified. She snapped, adding, “Take that back. That’s a horrible thing to say. We’refamily.”

Clara glared, retorting, “She’s my godchild. Can you say that much?”

The back of my neck grew heated. The verbal sparring had begun.

Maude rolled her eyes, moving stiffly to me. She was the shortest of the sisters, around five feet and one inch. Clara was a few inches taller, but the roundest of them. Maude was shaped more like a box, with a few extra layers of skin. She didn’t have the curves like Clara and Bess did, but she was bulky. Her brown and graying hair was pulled up in a bun, a bunch of stray hairs falling free where half her hair was a mess. The bun almost seemed like a joke. She didn’t seem to care, blowing out some air and grabbing me, jerking me to her for a brusque hug. I felt like I was hugging a stiff cardboard box. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I patted her on the arms before she let me go.

I said, “Hi, Aunt Maude. Welcome to New York.” I tried to grin, but it failed miserably.

Bess joined the group, on the outskirts. Graham was next to her, giving me a tired look.

I caught movement from behind them on the other side of the minivan. Oliver was trying to wrangle the two dogs. Pooh was in his arms but struggling to jump out.

I looked down, distracted, seeing that the dog had escaped my arms at some point.

“Honey.” My mom’s voice broke.

I went straight to her, no longer waiting.

She stepped into my chest, her forehead meeting just under my neck, and she was already sobbing before my arms closed around her. “Oh, honey.” Her hands fisted my shirt from behind me.

I was at a loss.

My mom cried. Sure, this happened. A good movie. A sad movie. Animal rescue commercials. A neighbor telling a story about their kidcoming home for a weekend. These things made her cry, but it was also a few tears shed. Not this. She was sobbing.

“Mom.” I tightened my hold on her.

She burrowed even more into me. “It’s nothing. It’s everything. The wedding. You left. We couldn’t get a hold of you. Then you were gone again. I couldn’t stay home. Your dad kept reassuring me you were fine, but it’s a mother’s intuition. You weren’t. I could just feel it. But you’re here.” She was squeezing me so hard.

My breasts were going to pop, but also, oh no. A mother’s intuition was correct. I shared a look with Blake, even though I knew she couldn’t have heard my mom.

“I’m fine, Mom. We’re all fine.”

Bess was tsking her from behind, pushing her way to me. “It’s my turn. Always the last, I’m telling you.”

My mom refused to let go, but it made no difference to Bess. She towered over my mom, who was barely taller than Maude, but my mom was the skinniest. She was too skinny. Bess wrapped her arms around us both. It was as if my mom was barely there.

“It’s good to see you again, Sawsaw.”

“Sawsaw,” Clara snickered, now holding Pooh, who was licking her face and her little tail wagging. “Always makes me want to cut down a tree with a real saw.”

Oliver looked slightly horrified and confused, but seeing me looking his way, that expression cleared. A warm smile took its place, and once Bess stepped back, and my mom loosened her hold, I stepped toward the outskirts of the group.

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