Listening outside, my heart turned ice-cold.
Then Lily spoke again.
“Exactly. Emily will never know that she’s actually Mrs. Foster’s biological daughter. I’ve never once treated her like a sister.”
“Thank goodness Mom had the foresight to switch us at birth. That old Mrs. Foster raised someone else’s son her whole life and never knew. She and Emily really are two of a kind.”
The sounds that followed from inside left no doubt what they were doing.
My fists clenched so tight my palms nearly bled, yet I couldn’t move.
Memories of my mom’s behavior surged up.
She had never acted like a loving mother to a pregnant daughter, but more like a hostile mother-in-law.
During my early pregnancy, I suffered severe morning sickness, retching over the toilet every day.
Instead of pity, my mom pinched her nose in disgust and scolded me for making the bathroom smell.
But with Lily, she was endlessly patient.
Lily had been brought home when I was just old enough to remember. My mom had looked at me sternly.
“Emily, she’s your sister now. You must protect her with your life. Do you understand?”
Confused, I’d agreed.