"If only Mia were half as sensible as you. But ever since she moved into Xavier's house, he dismissed the housekeeper. She can do all the manual work herself. Mopping the floors, scrubbing the dishes, that's nothing unusual for a girl like her. Don't ruin your beautiful hands, dear. I'll have Mia do it."
I bit the inside of my lip until I tasted copper. Through the open doorway, I watched my husband nod along to his mother's words without the faintest shadow of objection crossing his face. He saw nothing wrong with it. His wife on her knees scrubbing floors while his childhood flame sat at the table like a queen. It was simply the natural order of things in his mind.
They emerged from the kitchen arm in arm, Jane and Vanessa, like mother and daughter reunited after a long separation. Vanessa took the seat between Xavier and his mother as though it had been reserved for her. As though it had always been hers.
"Auntie, these past years, I've missed you so much." Vanessa's eyes glistened with carefully calibrated emotion. "There hasn't been a single day I haven't thought of Xavier."