Chapter 19: What She Earned

Elliot's POV

I had called my aunt on Saturday night, the minute I knew where my mother would be on Sunday.

So I was not surprised when headlights swung across the front hedge, and the old Buick pulled up behind my mother's cab.

My aunt got out slowly, with her cane.

The lawyer got out of the other side with a leather folder under his arm.

I reached the front door before Mr. Cheston could.

I opened it and stepped out onto the porch, and I pulled the door shut behind me.

My mother stood on the mat with the covered pot in her hands.

"Elliot," she said. "What a pleasant surprise."

"It isn't one."

"I came because Mr. Cheston was kind enough to ask me. I made the chicken and rice he likes."

"Put it down, Mother."

She did not.

She looked past me to the glass panel, where three faces had appeared in the hall light.

Nina was in front, with Bea at her shoulder and her father a step behind.

My mother smiled at them, brightly.

"Dear," she called through the door. "You mustn't let a family quarrel come between us. I only want what's best."

Mr. Cheston opened the door.

He stood in his cardigan on his own threshold with his glasses in his hand.

"Mrs. Rainer," he said.

"Mr. Cheston, I..."

"Mrs. Rainer, I would be obliged if you took your soup and went."

"You've been misled."

"I have," he said. "By you. For three years."

He said it without heat, and it was far worse than shouting.

"Nina's told me what you said about her. What you told your son. What you had me sign.

"You sat at my table and ate with me and told me my daughter was having a hard time."

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