“She hated me,” Sybill said quietly and continued to stare out at the lights on the water. “Always, as long as I can remember. It didn’t matter what I did, whether I fought with her or stepped back and let her have her way, she detested me. It was easier for me to keep my distance. I didn’t hate her, I simply felt nothing. And when I brush everything else aside right now, it’s exactly the same. I can’t feel anything for her. It must be a flaw,” she murmured. “Maybe it’s genetic.”

With a weak smile, she turned around again. “It might make an interesting study one day.”

“You never had a clue, did you, of what she was doing?”

“No. So much for my renowned observational skills. I’m sorry, Phillip. I’m so terribly sorry for what I’ve done, and haven’t done. I promise you I didn’t come here to harm Seth. And I give you my word I’ll do whatever I can to help. If I can go into Social Services in the morning, speak with Anna, your family. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to see Seth, try to explain.”

“We won’t be taking him to Anna’s office. We’re not letting Gloria near him.”

“She won’t be there.”

His eyes flickered. “I beg your pardon?”

“I don’t know where she is.” Defeated, she spread her hands. “I promised I’d bring her. I meant to.”

“You just let her walk? Goddamn it.”

“I didn’t—not intentionally.” She sank down onto the sofa again. “I took her to a restaurant. I wanted to get her a meal, talk to her. She was agitated and drinking too much. I was annoyed with her. I told her we were going to straighten everything out, that we were going to have a meeting in the morning. I made ultimatums. I should have known better. She didn’t like it, but I didn’t see what she could do about it.”

“What sort of ultimatums?”

“That she would get counseling, go into rehab. That she would get help, get herself straightened out before she tried to gain custody of Seth. She went to the ladies’ room, and when she didn’t come back out, I went in looking for her.”

She lifted her hands, let them fall uselessly. “I found my wallet. She must have taken it out of my purse. She left me my credit cards,” she added with a wry smile. “She’d know I would cancel them straight off. She only took the cash. It’s not the first time she’s stolen from me, but it always surprises me.” She sighed, shrugged it off. “I drove around for nearly two hours, hoping I’d find her. But I didn’t, and I don’t know where she is. I don’t know what she intends to do.”

“She messed you over pretty good, didn’t she?”

“I’m an adult. I can take care of myself, and I’m responsible for myself. But Seth . . . if even a part of what you’ve told me is true . . . he’ll hate me. I understand that and I’ll have to accept it. I’d like the chance to talk to him.”