For a second, I honestly wondered whether I had misunderstood her.
“Kids like her?”
Denise’s face darkened. “That came out wrong.”
“It came out pretty clearly.”
“Rebecca, I didn’t mean…”
“What exactly is wrong with my daughter?”
Mia called from behind us.
“Mom?”
I didn’t turn.
“What exactly is wrong with my daughter?”
Denise lowered her voice. “There is nothing wrong with Mia.”
“Then explain what you just said.”
She studied me for a moment.
Finally, she said, “Kids who think every good thing has to be paid for twice.”
That shut me up.
“There is nothing wrong with Mia.”
Mia marched toward us.
“You said you weren’t going to tell her.”
Denise looked at her. “I said I wouldn’t embarrass you.”
“This is embarrassing me.”
“Mia,” I cut in, “what is she talking about?”
My daughter picked at the frayed edge of her bracelet.
“Nothing.”
“You said you weren’t going to tell her.”
