She was still so young. Ever since losing one of her kidneys, she'd had trouble controlling her bladder. Whenever we went out, she wore a collection bag to avoid exactly this kind of humiliation.
Monica let out a sharp, delighted laugh at the sight.
"Why would you even bring her out in public like this? How embarrassing."
"If I were you, I'd stay home with the kid where you belong. Spare yourself the disgrace. The floor reeks now. At such a lovely banquet, no less—"
She didn't get to finish. My palm cracked across her cheek.
But before I could say a single word, a brutal force slammed into me from behind. I lost my balance and pitched forward, landing face-first in the puddle of urine on the floor.
"Alberta! What the hell are you doing?!"
The moment Thaddeus appeared, Monica transformed entirely.
"Thaddeus, Marilyn fell down. We were just trying to help her up."
"Lily was curious about what Marilyn's bag was and asked one little question, and Alberta just lost it—threw wine in my face and slapped me out of nowhere."
Seeing me on the ground, Marilyn crawled to my side, sobbing, frantically wiping at the filth on my clothes with her tiny hands.
"Mommy, Mommy, let's go home. Let's go home."