n and ea

erous. He blocked my path, his

ble for you. The least you c

r the scar on my arm? Or for the trip to Hawaii you all too

. And Chloe feels terrible about the skin graft. She's been having nightmares. Y

pointment. "We thought you were better than t

w Chloe' s crocodile tears and my cold anger, and in thei

scape was only a few days away.

e table, sinking into a chair. I would eat their

ately turned their attention back to Chloe, shower

uch a big h

esn't des

had been so proud of. It was rich and creamy. As I brought the

ice in her gaze. It was there and gone in a seco

en it. My bl

ing wa

The taste was exquisite. For a mom

My throat felt tight, as if a hand were slowly closi

go. Everyone in this house knew it. A tiny a

ground it into a fine powder, hiding it

n't hide her smile. It was a small, vicio

gs wouldn't cooperate. I knocked my chair over, a l

g?" Ethan asked, an

ngs burning, desperate for air. I could feel m

I saw panic

breathe!" D

bulance!" M

s my fault! The bisque! The chef must have used mango to swee

ng mess, and just like tha

r fault, Chlo

ccident. You

ow, we'

mforting her, while I w

from me, focused on the girl who was methodically, gleefully, destroying my life. My last

thirty years. She was the one who found me on the floor, blue and unconscious.

still in the dining room, tryin

second time in as many weeks, Maria was

whispered. "Why would you eat something wit

in there, Maria," I

open. Ethan, Mark, and David storme

me nerve," E

at them,

ipping with venom. "She's been crying for hours, blaming h

ded, looking at me as if I were a piece of garba

hat I was hearing. "

blowing completely out of proportion to hurt her! And now, you

he word was a

ize for scaring her, for making her feel guilty, and for being such a v