idea, and Gladys shot a dirty look her way. Paula was never going to make her child feel guilty for having a good time or even for smiling. She’d grown up with negativity her whole life, but things were going to be different for her baby. It was going to come into the world with so much love, it would never feel like she did right then.
“What’s so funny?” Gladys asked. “I’m an old woman who lives alone and has to beg her children to come see her a few minutes every so often.”
“I was thinking about your pretty red roses.” Paula knew better than to sit on the embroidered pillow in the rocking chair, so she laid it on the sofa before she sat down. The coffee table, the side tables beside every chair, and even the back of the sofa were covered in crocheted doilies of one size or another. And knickknacks ranging from clowns to angels were scattered everywhere. When she was a child, she could feel their little black beady eyes staring at her, and even now they seemed to be condemning her for not being a better daughter.
“If it weren’t for Selena, they’d die. She’s the one with the green thumb and knows when to spray and when to fertilize. You would kill a silk flower arrangement. And I don’t see what’s funny about red roses, so wipe that grin off your face.” Gladys’s very tone was demanding.
“Mama, let Paula tell us what she’s got to say so I can go home.” Selena tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
“Paula might not know much about roses, but she makes beautiful wedding dresses,” Mitzi defended her.
“Glad she’s good at something.” Gladys glared at Mitzi.
“And she was a damn fine librarian before that. You should be proud of her for getting her degree,” Jody said.
Gladys waggled a finger at Jody. “Don’t you cuss in my house.”
“Mother, I need to tell you—” Paula said.
“Are you dying?” Gladys turned the finger to point at her. “If so, Selena will need to buy me a new black dress. My old one is so worn from going to funerals that it’s faded something terrible.”
Jody gasped. “Mrs. Walker! Paula is your daughter. You’re talking about her like she’s a stranger, or worse yet, a dead stranger.”
“Thank you.” Paula shot a dirty look toward her sister. “It’s nice someone will stand up for me.”
“Hey, don’t go shootin’ daggers at me. I’ve stood up for you lots of times,” Selena said.
“Name one, please.” Paula could hear the coldness in her own voice.
Gladys tipped up her chin and looked down her nose at Jody. “Young lady, don’t you use that tone with me or Paula’s sister, who was good enough to drive up here. So watch your smart mouth.”
“I’m pregnant,” Paula spit out.
Gladys turned her focus to Paula. “You are what? And you didn’t even invite me to the wedding or tell me that you got married? What kind of daughter are you anyway?”
“I’m not married. I’m not getting married. I will be a single parent. And now that I’ve told you, I’ll be leaving.” Paula’s hands knotted into fists as she glared at her sister.
“I knew it was terrible news.” Selena hopped up and went nose to nose with Paula. “You’re ruining the family name. We’ll never be able to hold our heads up in Celeste again. God almighty, Paula, don’t you even know how to use birth control?”
“Well, I expected it years ago, with the friends you ran with. Do you even know who it belongs to?” Gladys screeched.
“I do, but I’m not marrying him,” Paula said.
“If you’re going to raise up a bastard child, I’d just as soon you didn’t bring it around here,” Gladys snapped. “Matter of fact, why don’t you just stay away from now on. Selena, I’ll need you to sit with me to be sure I don’t have a heart attack over this. Oh, sweet Jesus,” Gladys moaned. “They might even throw me out of my church. Girl, get me an extra nerve pill right now.”
“Look what you’ve done,” Selena spat.
Gladys pointed at the door. “You can go now. And don’t come back. You are dead to me.”
Paula had expected her mother to yell at her, but to disown her completely cut to the center of her heart. “But Mama—”
Gladys sighed dramatically as if it were her last breath. “Just go. Selena will take care of me.”
“If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.” With