Page 63 of Pucking Secret

“What do you care?” I hiss. “Since when do you give a shit about Gram at all?”

She clenches her jaw and glares at me. “She’s my mother. I have a right to know what’s going on with her.”

“You sure didn’t seem to care when she had her surgery last year.” All we got was a single phone call asking for an update while Gram was in recovery. She didn’t even bother to send Gram fucking flowers. “I guess Gram has to be knocking on death’s door for you to actually act like you give a damn.”

“Oh, it’s easy for you to act all high and mighty and pass judgement on me,” she snarls. “How often do you bother to visit me, huh? How much effort do you force me to go through just to get a single phone call with my grandchild? Criticizing me for my relationship with my mother is a bit hypocritical, don’t you think?”

I stare at her, stunned. Is she seriously blaming me for our crappy relationship? She cannot be serious!

“You’re the one who sent me away!” I yell, my voice choked with frustration and fury. “You dumped me onto Gram instead of actually taking care of me and helping me because you were soworried about what other people would think of you. I’m not the one who broke us, Mom! You are!”

“Oh, grow up,” she snaps back. “Take responsibility for yourself, for once, instead of blaming me for all your problems.”

My jaw drops and I stare at her, dumfounded. She really just doesn’t get it, does she? What’s worse, I don’t think she ever will.

“I can’t do this,” I murmur, taking a step back from her and shaking my head. “Not now.”

Before Mom can reply, I spot the doctor coming down the hall toward us again. I push past Mom to meet him, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“How is she?” I ask.

The doctor gives me a gentle smile. “She’s out of danger. We’re going to put a stent in her heart to help keep the vessel open that’s causing the problems. It’s a straightforward surgery and she should be in and out in a couple of hours.”

“Okay,” I murmur. “Thank you.”

Nodding, the doctor turns and walks away again. Releasing a long breath, I turn back to face Mom.

“If you want to see Gram, fine. It’s the least you can do, but I don’t want to talk to you right now. I just want to focus on Gram.”I turn back to the waiting area to take a seat.

“Fine,” Mom snaps. “But you still need to tell me when I can see Millie.”

I pause for a moment, but don’t look back at her. Again, it’s all about her. All about what she wants. She doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but herself. Gritting my teeth, I drop into a chair in the far corner, fold my arms, and keep my gaze firmly away from her. I don’t need to put up with her bullshit. Not today of all days.

When I finally get home, it’s nearly three in the morning, and I’m so exhausted I could collapse. Thankfully, Gram’s surgery went well and she’s officially out of danger. It was only when the doctor told me that she was okay that I allowed myself to head home. I step through the front door, Grace is there, still awake despite how late it is. She looks as frazzled as I feel, wearing an old pair of sweatpants and a dark hoodie, her hair in a messy bun at the back of her head. She rushes to give me a hug.

“Grace,” I say. “You’re… still awake?”

“Oh, Stace. I couldn’t sleep,” she says softly. “Don’t worry, Millie’s in bed and sleeping peacefully. How did it go? Are you okay?”

In the warmth of Grace’s embrace, something inside me cracks. I’ve barely been holding myself together, and I just lose it. I cling to Grace as I burst into tears.

“No,” I sob. “I’m not okay.”

“Is your grandma…?”

She doesn’t finish the question, but I know what she’s asking. I whimper, “She’s going to be okay, thank God. They’re keeping her in the hospital and running more tests.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Grace leans back so she can look into my tear-drenched face.

“Maybe,” I shrug. “That’s not all that happened, though. My mom showed up and… and she told Owen he was Millie’s father… and he didn’t really respond. I think he was too stunned, and he just left. I was right, this whole time. He had no idea.”

Her lips part. Her eyes widen in shock. For a moment she’s almost as dead silent as Owen was in the hospital. Finally,though, she grips tightly onto my hand. “Wait,what?Are you serious? Your Mom just burst in and blurted that out?”

I nod, holding back a sob.

“Oh, Stace.” Grace sighs and shakes her head. “I know you wanted to tell him yourself. I know you were planning to do it. I’m so sorry it happened this way.”

“Yeah… you should’ve seen him, Grace. He was so shocked.”

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