Page 130 of A Captive Situation

“No.” Clara corrected her, shaking her head. “We went shopping that one time in Missoula.”

“That’s right. It’s been four years since I saw your girls and another eight before that. You’re their mother. You set the tone. I’ve been asking for the last three years for their addresses so I could send a Christmas card their way. You always ‘forget.’” She harrumphed. “Bullshit. You just don’t want us to be a part of our nieces’ and nephew’s lives.”

“It’s—” Maude kept shaking her head, her eyes shining again. She looked like she was struggling to speak.

I felt a little bad. I felt part of this was my fault.

She choked out, “You’re all adults. You can—” She waved a hand around the room, really trying to hold back her tears, but they trickled down.

There was a scraping sound at the back door, and a bark that followed.

My mom crossed the room to let Bear and Pooh inside. They scampered around, saying their hellos to everyone before going to the water bowl.

Oliver moved to the kitchen and a rustling sound was soon heard. The crinkle of dog food being poured into a bowl. He put the dog food away before returning to Graham’s side, taking his hand in his and gripping it tightly.

Maude drew in a sharp breath, saying so tightly, her voice strained, “I’ve never meant to keep anyone away from each other. I swear. It’s ...”

“What?” Aunt Bess moved her way, her voice sharp. “It’s what?”

“It’s ...” Aunt Maude stopped trying to fight the tears from falling. She let them fall, her eyes opening wide, and she motioned around the room. “It’s you guys.”

The sisters all shared a look.

“It’s Mom and Dad.” Her voice broke. “It was Mom and Dad.”

I lowered my head, and then felt a glass of something being pushed into my hand. A warm arm slid over my shoulders as another warm body pressed up on my other side. Graham and Oliver had come to stand beside me as Oliver had made me a drink.

I whispered, “Thanks.” It was pink and green and looked like a real-life watermelon, just liquid and in a glass. “It’s real pretty.”

Graham snorted.

Oliver snickered, leaning into my other side. “I tripled the booze.”

I said it again, breathless, “Thank you.”

Both laughed quietly.

I took a sip, and almost moaned because it was sooo good, but all four sisters were finally talking. To each other. (To clarify.)

My mom said, “What do you mean by that? It was Mom and Dad? They’ve been gone for years.”

Maude sighed, blinking back tears. Her whole chest deflated. “Mom—she told me to go. Said for me not to come back. I ... I took that literally. I was hurting. My pride—I was so stubborn. I was wrong to be so stubborn.” Her eyes held to her son, misery and guilt shining.

“What did you fight about?” Bess’s voice quieted, calming down. A twinge of pity crossed her face. “Mom and Dad weren’t perfect, but I can’t imagine Mom would kick you out.”

“She did. She, uh, she didn’t want to hear something I had to say.”

Oh no. A new bad feeling was sneaking into my gut, settling there.

“What did you tell her?” Clara rasped out, demanding. A bit rough.

“I told her ...” More tears trickled down Aunt Maude’s face. “I told her a teacher touched me—”

My mom gasped.

“Oh, no,” Bess said under her breath.

Maude finished, faintly, “—Mom didn’t want to hear it. She told me I was lying, but I would not go back to that school.”

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