“I never asked for anything unreasonable.”
“The art event,” Laura said. “I told you I wasn’t ready for you there. And you brought up the loan.”
“Has this happened before?” I asked.
Laura looked at her hands. “Yes.”
“Is that a crime?”
I felt a cold flicker of recognition.
“Then today,” Laura said. “I told her I wouldn’t manipulate you into forgiving her. And I wouldn’t keep giving her more time with Dori because of money.”
“And?”
“And she stopped being generous.” Laura swallowed. “We’d agreed I could repay her slowly, once we recovered. Now she wants it all back, fast, because I won’t give her what she wants.”
“That was the urgent thing,” I said.
I felt a cold flicker of recognition.
Laura nodded.
“I met her without Dori. I told her it had to stop. And I realized the secrecy was what gave her power. So I brought her here. I was going to tell you myself, Mom.” She laughed, wetly. “Dori’s family tree just got here first.”
