Chapter 10 - The First Call From Doreen
Doreen called that evening.
Taryn almost didn't answer.
She did anyway.
“What?”
“You embarrassed me.”
Taryn stared at the wall.
“You slapped my daughter.”
“She disrespected me.”
“She was reaching for her cake.”
“Enough.”
Taryn heard the old authority in her mother's voice.
The voice that had controlled family dinners.
Business meetings.
Holidays.
Every major decision.
Taryn had spent most of her life responding to that voice automatically.
But not anymore.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to apologize.”
Taryn laughed.
“No.”
“You've lost your mind.”
“No.”
Doreen's breathing became heavier.
“You will come back.”
“No.”
“You need this family.”
Taryn looked toward Lula's bedroom.
“I needed a family that protected my daughter.”
Silence.
Then Doreen said something that made Taryn's stomach tighten.
“You have no idea what you're giving up.”
The call ended.
Taryn remained still.
May you like
She knew her mother.
That wasn't an empty threat.
