Page 156 of Ice Darling
I pretend not to notice her watching.
Mom fiddles awkwardly with her earring. “Cordelia?—”
“It’s late. I’ll head out now.”
“Won’t you stay over? We haven’t seen each other in so long, and you stormed away at dinner, so we couldn’t even catch up.”
I bark out a bitter laugh. “I’m sorry I made a scene and ruined dinner, Mom. But don’t worry. I won’t be attending any more of these, so you don’t have to suffer the embarrassment.”
“Cordelia, when did I say I was embarrassed?” Mom follows me to the door and clips her jacket closed to ward against the chill. “I understand I upset you. I only wanted to share some memories with Brenda and her family. If I knew it would have offended you, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.”
I stomp onto the porch, saying nothing.
She grabs my elbow. “Cordelia.Cordelia,I am your family, and I’mtryinghere.” Her voice tightens with frustration. “What more do youwantfrom me?”
I turn to her, staring her dead in the eyes. “Gwen’s gone, Mom.”
Her hand falls away from me, and she stumbles back, her mouth going slack in shock.
I dig my talons in deeper, hating myself for being cold and yet not knowing how else to be. “We’re not a family anymore. We never were.” I dig my key into my palm and say, “I want nothing from you.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Brenda: Sasha?
Brenda: I just want to check in.
Brenda: I haven’t heard from you since the dinner last night.
Brenda: Are you okay?
Sasha: I sent a video.
Brenda: Oh my goodness! Where did you get a video of our kids kissing?
Sasha: There are cameras in the driveway.
Brenda: They’re really going at it, aren’t they? On the motorcycle and all? Good heavens. I didn’t know my son was like that.
Sasha: That’s the most I’ve seen Cordelia smile in ages.
Brenda: This is great news! But why do you seem so down?
Sasha: Because my daughter hates me.
Brenda: She doesn’t hate you.
Sasha: Every time I open my mouth around her, I say the wrong thing.
Brenda: I go through the same with Viking.
Sasha: Delia has a wonderful man like Viking looking after her now. Maybe I should disappear from her life like she wants me to.
Brenda: But you worked so hard to get them together. You should at least watch them be a cute couple as a reward.
Sasha: What does it matter? I won’t even be invited when they decide to get married.
Brenda: Don’t give up, Sasha. There has to be a way to get through to Delia. She’s a sweet girl.
