She wrapped her arms tightly around me, her little voice thick with emotion. “Mama… this is the hundredth time Daddy left us to go be with her.”
“I’ve made up my mind. We don’t need him anymore. Let’s go, just the two of us.”
So she knew. She had known all along. She just kept giving him one more chance… and then another. Until she finally ran out of chances to give. Until she finally gave up.
I pulled her close and held her to my chest, my tears falling again—but this time, I smiled through them.
“Okay, baby. Mama will take you away.”
The next morning, Malissa showed up at my door with a cheery smile, as if nothing had happened. She invited me out shopping—said it was her way of apologizing for “not taking better care of Enid.”
She looped her arm around Milford’s and purred sweetly, “Milo, you better come with us to pay the bills. After all, Lori’s had such a rough year—we owe her, don’t you think?”
Malissa played the role of The Wrights' Lady of the House like she was born for it—graceful, entitled, utterly in control. So, when I didn’t respond right away, Milford’s expression soured.