Chapter 39

They haven’t been speaking. Her mother doesn’t come out of their bedroom anymore. Her aunts were the only ones she permits to come in and out – but just because they insist she eats something. It was a torture on Audrey’s part. Her own mother is avoiding her like she couldn’t bear the sight of her. It was pang in her chest – hardly tolerable.

“You and your mother fought?”

Audrey raised in one elbow and sat on the sofa.

Her aunt Gemma stands on the foot of the stairs and walks over to her. “She’s just in pain, that’s all.”

“I know.” She tucked her legs beneath her, the throw pillow secured on her lap.

“People say a lot of things they don’t mean when they’re mad.” She sinks herself beside her and patted her knee. “She’ll be fine.”

Audrey sighed. “She still doesn’t want to talk to me, does she?”

She nods slightly. “If it’s any consolation, she’s not talking to me either. She just ate what I gave her and that was it.”

Ah, the silent treatment. One of