“Hello,” Marina said as she stepped inside.

Letitia flashed her a look of disgust before turning back to the window.

“Didn’t figure I’d see you this week,” Letitia said. “Shouldn’t you be spending your time losing weight and prettying yourself up to find a new man to support you?”

Marina held in a sigh. She should have known that news of her situation would have reached Letitia. In Last Chance, gossiping was the local pastime. Between the facility staff and visitors, word would have filtered back.

Letitia turned as she approached and gave her a more comprehensive review. “Looks like you had some work done. Guess that’s why you haven’t been here to see me. Too little, too late, since your man already bolted.”

“I haven’t been here because I was helping Avery get set up at college.”

Letitia waved a hand in dismissal. “Stop coddling her. She’s old enough to take care of herself.”

“You mean like I was in elementary school, when you checked out of being a mother?”

Letitia flashed her a look of anger. “What the hell are you talking about? I was a great mother. It’s not my fault that you didn’t listen to anything I said. If you had, you wouldn’t be in the situation you are now. If you can’t keep a piece of shit like Harold, then there’s no hope for you.”

Marina knew she should ignore the words. Should turn around and leave and seriously consider whether or not she ever wanted to return. There was nothing for her here. She’d known that since she was a child but for whatever reason, she’d never stopped clinging to the hope that one day her mother might act like she loved her. Then about a year ago, Letitia had gotten nasty with Avery and that was the breaking point. It was one thing for Marina to suck it up. She’d been trained to do it since childhood, but no way was she allowing Letitia’s toxic personality to damage her daughter.

“Just like there was no hope for you holding on to my father,” Marina said.

Letitia jerked her head back as if she’d been struck.

“I told your father to leave, and no way was I allowing him back after he took up with Constance. Being drunk is no excuse for taking up with a whore, even when they trick you into it.”

“Uh-huh. Except that Constance was already pregnant with Halcyon when you met my dad, which means that you took up with her man, not the other way around.”

“I don’t have to listen to this! Nurse! Nurse!”

Marina shook her head as a nurse hurried into the room and scanned Letitia, trying to assess what the problem was.

“I want this bitch out of my sight,” Letitia said. “And I don’t want to see her again.”

The nurse’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth but apparently, couldn’t figure out what to say.

“That’s okay,” Marina told her. “I was just leaving.”