"Ally was kind enough to share her birthday cake with you, and this is how you act? Who exactly are you putting on that attitude for?"
I couldn't speak.
Beside her, Aileen suddenly shivered, as though startled, and slowly reached up to tug at the hem of Mom's sleeve. "Mom, my head feels so dizzy. Am I going to die?"
Mom pressed her hand to Aileen's forehead, her tone turning impossibly soft. "Ally, don't say such things! Today is your—"
She paused.
She glanced back at me, at my pale face, then turned back and spoke in a gentle murmur. "Ally, Mommy's taking you to the hospital right now. Everything's going to be fine."
Before leaving, she pulled a cash gift envelope from her purse and set it on the table.
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and slipped a key into her own pocket.
"I'm taking the key. When you've learned to behave, you can go outside."
By the end of her sentence, her voice held nothing but impatience.
"And stop dressing like such a mess. People would think I'm abusing you."
The words barely left her lips before she steadied Aileen and walked out.
As she pulled the door shut, her hand paused on the handle. She seemed about to say something more to me.