Page 52 of Through the Snow Globe
“I’m sorry I’m talking so much. I just don’t get a lot of visitors,” Maria finally said.
Diana remembered that Maria had said that yesterday as well. Maria had family nearby, but she never saw them. “I don’t mind. I love hearing about your life. I’d love to hear more.” Diana hedged. She wasn’t a counselor like Rochelle. Her job was to work with the body, that was it. “Your daughter must be very busy not to stop in regularly,” she broached.
“How did you know I have a daughter who lives nearby?”
Right.“I think you mentioned her once.”
“Hmm. I imagine she is busy. She has a daughter of her own, you know. I’m a grandmother. My granddaughter plays basketball. I only know this because of a nice neighbor who cyberstalked my daughter’s social media for me once.”
Diana remembered this story. “I’m not trying to pry, but why would your daughter turn her back on a mom like you?”
Maria slowly sat up on the side of the bed. “There are some mistakes you can’t take back.” The older woman hesitated and then, after a long sigh, she continued talking. “After my daughter was married to her husband for about two years, they were at my home for the holidays and her husband, Blaine, upset me. It was no secret that I didn’t like him, but he was my daughter’s choice so I never said anything. That day, though . . .” Maria shook her head, regret spilling over in her expression. The folds of her wrinkles deepened on her forehead and around her eyes. “I just couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. I was like this volcano primed to erupt.”
“What happened?” Diana asked.
“I told my daughter she didn’t have to let Blaine speak to her the way he did. That he was disrespectful, spoiled, and a child in a grown man’s body. I told her that she could do better for herself than a man like him, and that I disapproved.”
“Ouch,” Diana said quietly. “I’m guessing that didn’t go over very well.”
“Not at all. It wasn’t my finest moment.” Maria looked down at her folded hands. “Anyway, Blaine heard everything. My daughter was obviously upset. Her husband made her feel like she needed to choose between the man she loved and me. They had a child together. What could she do? So, she cut me off. It’s been twelve years now since we’ve spoken.” She shrugged. “Love will make you do crazy things, I guess.”
“I’m so sorry, Maria.” Diana laid a hand over her patient’s hand. “Twelve years is a long time. You should reach out to her.”
“I have. Many times.” Maria shrugged, her shoulders rising asymmetrically. The strong one rose two inches higher than the weak. “She’s not interested in reconnecting with me. I understand.”
“But you’re her mother. She loves you. She must,” Diana insisted. It wasn’t as if Maria had chosen to leave her daughter like Jackie Merriman had. Maria was a present mom who’d let her emotions spill over one time. She was human. “That’s not okay.”
“It is what it is,” Maria said glumly.
“No.” Diana shook her head. “What’s your daughter’s name? I’ll look her up and contact her myself.” That was something Diana would never normally do. Not the pre–December 4th Diana, at least. She believed in professionalism and this was crossing a line.
Maria’s jaw dropped. “No, you won’t contact her. I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but this is my situation. I’m honoring Cecilia’s wishes by staying out of her and my granddaughter’s lives. I haven’t even seen my Addy since she was a little girl.”
“Addy?” Diana repeated. The world seemed to slow just enough for Diana to piece together the puzzle. “Cecilia Pierce? Mrs. Pierce is your daughter?”
Maria’s brow pinched softly, her brown eyes searching Diana’s. “Do you know her?”
Diana could barely process what was happening. This was a small town, yes, but how could she have a mother and granddaughter as her patients, back-to-back on the same day, and not realize it? “Yes. Addy is my patient.” Diana flinched and then covered a hand to her mouth. “But I wasn’t supposed to tell you that because of patient confidentiality.” Diana had never broken confidentiality before. It was a huge no-no. She could be fired or even lose her license for doing so. “Forget I told you that.”
“Addy is a patient of yours?” Maria brought her left hand to her chest, her lips parted slightly. “Why would a young girl need you? You’re a therapist for people who can’t leave their homes, aren’t you?”
Diana couldn’t believe how royally she’d messed up this new day already. She felt so disoriented that none of what was happening even felt real anymore. She’d already lived this day—three times. Maybe she was stuck in a dream. Or perhaps she was literally stuck in that silly snow globe that Linus had gotten her. “I’m sorry, Maria. I can’t tell you anything more. I can’t believe I even let that slip.”
Maria reached for her. “Is she okay? Is Cecilia okay? Please. I need to know.”
Diana didn’t want to say too much, but Maria’s gaze was pleading and desperate. How could Diana turn her down? “They’re fine. It’s difficult for them right now, but they’ll be okay eventually.”
Maria seemed to wait for more.
“Mr. Pierce isn’t in the picture. I’ve never met him, and they’ve never mentioned him.”
Maria’s lips parted. “Cecilia is going through this alone? Whateverthisis?”
“I don’t know.” Diana shrugged. “But you’re going through your condition alone as well. You shouldn’t be. Not when you have each other.” As soon as Diana said those words, she felt like a hypocrite. These last three weeks after Linus’s accident, she’d dragged herself through on her own. Rochelle, the Grant family, and even her new supervisor, William Davis, had tried to be there for her and she’d pushed them all away, holding in her emotions like Grandma Denny would have insisted she do.
Diana stood. “I better get those boxes from the attic for you.”
Maria shuffled behind her. “I still don’t know how you knew that’s what I wanted to do this morning, but I appreciate your help. Thank you.”
