“Can’t they hear us?” Jody whispered.

“No, they’re watching television.” Paula pulled a tissue from her purse and wiped sweat from her brow. She’d dreaded this moment for months, but it would all be over in the next few minutes. No doubt, she’d take a mental beatdown, but at least it would be done and finished.

“Do we know if the baby is a boy or girl?” Mitzi asked.

Paula nodded. “Not saying yet. Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get it over with. Dammit! I turned thirty-two two months ago. Why do I feel like I’m a teenager coming in five minutes later than curfew?”

“Because you and I would give anything for our mothers to love us unconditionally. But, honey, it ain’t goin’ to happen.” Jody opened the old screen door and knocked.

Paula pushed past her, turned the knob, and went right inside without waiting for her mother to yell at them to come in. “She doesn’t get out of her chair except for meals and to go to the bathroom. It’s us, Mama,” she called out as all three of them made their way to the den at the back of the house.

“Selena is here, too.” Gladys’s voice sounded happy.

“I brought Mitzi and Jody, and we can only stay a little while.” Paula didn’t know what to do with her hands. She wanted to hold them over her stomach to protect her child from what was about to happen, but instead she dropped them to her sides.

“Oh.” Gladys’s tone changed instantly. “Well, y’all have a seat. I was hoping that you’d go to the drugstore for me before they close. Selena can’t stay long. She has to get home and cook supper for her husband.” Gladys shot Paula a dirty look. “I don’t guess you’re ever going to need to go home and cook, are you?”

“Probably not,” Paula said. “Hello, Selena.”

“What’s this big occasion?” Selena smiled. “Are you dating—better yet, are you engaged? We’ve been planning your wedding for the past half hour. I’d offer to let you wear my dress since that would get some use out of it other than dressing up a mannequin.” Her brown eyes started at Paula’s toes and traveled to her neck. “But then again, I’m so much smaller than you, it wouldn’t be possible.”

“I told Selena talking about you ever finding someone was just a pipe dream.” Gladys’s cold stare made Paula feel like a piece of trash.