I held them when they were sick, taught them to tie their shoes, helped them with homework, and comforted them through disappointment.
I learned how ginger candy helped Lily’s motion sickness and how Jacob needed me to squeeze his hand twice during thunderstorms.
“I just don’t like the sound, Gran,” he would say.
I worked two jobs when necessary. I skipped vacations, skipped meals, and sometimes ignored my own health to make sure they had everything they needed.
Secondhand coats. Patched jeans. Coupon clipping like it was a military strategy.
I gave them every ounce of love and strength I had.
And in all those years, Maribelle never called.
Not once.
Back to the Present
Now she sat in my living room like a stranger inspecting a property she might buy.
“My husband and I are looking to expand our family, Helen,” she said casually. “He wants children. I want children… but I don’t want to give birth to them. And naturally, the twins fit the bill.”
“You did give birth to them,” I said slowly. “You can’t be serious.”
“Ben doesn’t know that they’re biologically mine,” she continued. “I told him I wanted to adopt a pair of orphaned teenagers. He thought it was noble.”
I stared at her.
“So, you lied to your husband?”
“I prefer to think of it as strategic framing, Helen.”
“And now you want to uproot two teenagers, lie to your husband, and erase the only family they’ve ever known?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I want.”
“And you think they’ll go with you?”
“Of course. They’ll live with us, attend private schools, travel every summer, and have unlimited resources.”
My chest tightened.
“They’re 16,” she added. “They’ll want more than this shack, Helen. After all… I’m their mother.”
“And what about me?” I asked quietly.
She waved a dismissive hand.
“Oh, you won’t be part of it. My husband can’t know there’s a grandmother involved—especially not one with your… limitations.”
Then she looked me up and down and smiled coldly.
“And let’s be honest. How much longer do you plan to be around anyway?”
Before I could answer, she raised her voice.
