I stared at her, bewildered.
"Mom, what are you talking about? I didn't—"
Naomi's foot slammed into my lower abdomen, right where I'd had the surgery. The pain folded me in half, and I crumpled to the floor.
"Still lying! Who else would slip Lawrence sleeping pills? You're jealous that Vivian can give this family a son!"
"Someone get in here. Drag her outside and make her kneel! She can come back when she's ready to admit what she did!"
Benedict rushed in and stepped between us. "Mom, it's snowing outside. Phoebe just got through her postpartum recovery."
Naomi's lip curled. "You're still protecting this wretch? Keep it up and she'll drive Vivian to an early grave. How would you face your brother's spirit? How would you face our ancestors?"
There was a time when Naomi couldn't say a single harsh word about me before Benedict would push back. Now he just stood there.
His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. "Phoebe, just apologize to Vivian."
I laughed. Tears spilled down my cheeks. "If I told you I didn't do it, would you believe me?"
Benedict looked at me with something close to disappointment. "They found sleeping pills outside the attic, Phoebe. What am I supposed to believe?"