Chapter 9 - A New Normal
Bria began to smile again—a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. She started kindergarten, and for the first time, she walked through the doors with her head held high.
I found myself changing, too. I started wearing colors other than black. I started eating dinner in the kitchen with them. I stopped looking at my phone every five minutes to check for threats.
One evening, I found Nora in the garden. She was planting white roses—Maren’s favorite.
"I thought you might want them," she said, her hands covered in dirt.
I walked over and knelt beside her. I didn't care about the stains on my clothes. I took a bulb from her and planted it in the soil. "You know," I said, "Bria doesn't call you 'housekeeper' anymore."
May you like
Nora paused, looking at me. "What does she call me?"
"She calls you 'Mom' when she thinks I’m not listening," I said. "And honestly... I think she’s right."
