She should have been exhausted after such an emotionally charged day, but she was inordinately excited about giving her mother a tour of her home. When she wasn’t working at the clinic, taking the kids to some activity, or shopping, she was usually in her house; she had invested much of her time and energy into creating a beautiful, nourishing space for her family. Their home was a reflection of her, and showing her mother around, would, in a sense, illustrate the woman she had become.

A few minutes later, Grace emerged from the bedroom. She wore a simple purple kimono and matching, ballerina-style slippers. Monica noticed that she had refreshed her make-up, too, and that her thick gray hair looked different. Styled in a cute pageboy, it had the too-perfect look of a wig. Monica wondered about the condition of her mother’s natural hair.

“Try a mint?” Grace asked. She offered Monica a quarter-sized wafer wrapped in silver foil.

“Thanks, but I’m not a fan of mints,” Monica said.

“You’ll like these. I promise you.” Grace pressed the mint into her palm.

Monica unwrapped the candy. It was a greenish disc, with milky white striations across the surface. She slipped it onto her tongue. An intense burst of peppermint flavor made her pucker her lips.

“Hmm, that’s strong,” Monica said. “Good flavor, though.”

“I make them myself. It’s one of my hobbies.”

“Ah, so you make mints and gum drops, too, like the one you gave Lexi at the church?”

“Straight from Nana’s kitchen.” Grace smiled.

“I enjoy baking as well. Interesting that we’ve got that in common.” Monica clasped her hands together. “So. Let me show you around, okay?”

As they were already on the second floor of the house, Monica started their tour from there.

“Some logistics first. You already know where one of the restrooms is located, right across the hallway here.” Monica motioned from the bathroom to another nearby door. “That’s the other guestroom, where Pat sleeps. You and Pat can share the bathroom.”

“I don’t get my own lavatory?” Grace shook her head. “Tsk, tsk.”

“Well, it’s the closest one. I thought you wouldn’t mind.”

“I was making a joke. It’s acceptable. Go on.”

Monica proceeded to the open-air catwalk that bridged the various quarters on the second floor, her mother following close behind. From above, they had a view of the spacious family room below. Troy was watching a college football game on television, while his mother talked on her cell phone. Their kids played together on the floor with a set of Legos.

Duchess, sitting in Pat’s lap, looked up at them. A low growl started deep in her throat.

What is her problem with my mother? Monica wondered again. It’s so unlike her.