Things Remembered Read Free Page B

“I’ll get it later.”
    She sat back down, in Bill’s chair this time which was closer to Heather’s. “You know Grace thinks you don’t like her.”
    â€œShe could be right.”
    â€œYou don’t mean that.”
    Heather propped her hands over her belly. “What I really don’t like is the person Grace is becoming. She’s turning into a user. And you’re not only facilitating the transformation, Karla, you’re encouraging it. You’ve got to let go. How is Grace ever going to learn that if she falls she can get up under her own power if you’re always waiting around to pick her up? You’re denying her any sense of accomplishment from doing something herself.”
    â€œWow, that’s quite a speech. How long have you been working on it?”
    â€œDon’t you dare use that superior-sounding, condescending voice on me. It’s not a speech, it’s a fact.”
    Karla backed off fighting the need to defend herself. “All right. So what do you think I should have done about the car?” When Heather started to answer, Karla held up her hand to stop her. “Wait a minute. Before you say anything, you should know Grace checked into having the old one fixed and it was going to cost more than it was worth. Also, if she can’t get to auditions she can’t get a job. Without a job she can’t pay her rent—let alone car payments.”
    â€œWhat would you have done if you were faced with the same circumstances?”
    The question took Karla by surprise. “That’s beside the point.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œGrace isn’t me.”
    â€œAnd why is that?”
    Karla hated losing ground in any argument, let alone one to Heather. “Do you really want to get into a discussion about birth order?”
    â€œThat’s a cop-out and you know it. Grace being the youngest has nothing to do with this. She can’t take care of herself because you won’t let her.”
    Karla got up again. “I’m sorry I ever told you about the car.”
    â€œYou had to. At least you had to tell us about it or come up with some other reason for cutting short your visit.” Heather stood now, too. “That’s another thing that pisses me off. Grace gets to see you whenever she wants. She snaps her ‘poor little me’ fingers and you’re there before her crocodile tears are dry. I get you once a year, twice if I’m really lucky. It’s been ten months since you were here last and yet she sees nothing wrong in summoning you to L.A. even when she knows it means you have to cut days off your visit with me.”
    This was not the time to point out that the road between their houses ran both ways. “Would it help if I promise to try to make it back for Christmas?” They hadn’t spent a Christmas together in six years.
    â€œAnd how are you going to manage that?”
    â€œI don’t know, I’ll figure something out.” With Halloween and Thanksgiving to get through yet, Christmas seemed a lifetime away.
    â€œI’d love it. But you know what I’d like even more? If you could be here when the baby’s born.”
    â€œMe, too, but I don’t think you’d love how long you had to stay in labor for me to get here in time.”
    â€œYou could—” She shook her head. “Never mind. Get through your month with Anna first, and then we’ll talk about it.”
    â€œSpeaking of Anna—I know you have your mind made up about having her come to live with you, but I wish you’d reconsider.” Karla had hoped that by going to Anna’s herself she would take the burden of responsibility off of Heather. But Heather was convinced that in the end Anna’s care should fall to the person who loved her most, and neither Karla nor Grace could lay claim to that position.
    â€œI know you do, but my mind’s made up. I can’t