“Pregnancy doesn’t suit everyone equally, I suppose. Claire was radiant.”
I smiled without warmth. “Claire has always been willing to perform radiance.”
My mother’s eyes sharpened. “There’s no need for nastiness.”
Another wave came then—harder this time, curling from my spine around to the front of my abdomen like a steel band tightening. I gripped the edge of the island until it passed.
My mother watched with mild irritation, as though I were doing this badly on purpose.
“When’s your next appointment?” she asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“Well, then you can mention all this melodrama to your doctor.”
I looked at her.
Something in me wanted to laugh, because even then—even with pain gathering beneath my skin—I still expected a mother to sound like one.
“I think I need to sit down,” I said.
“Then sit.”