BPOV

    I paced my living room, trying to walk off my fury. Grace was sitting on the couch, staring out my windows blankly. I silently cursed myself for not being more supportive, but I was pretty sure that if I got close to her, I’d explode and hurt her.

    So, that left me pacing, wringing my hands, and coming up with ways to make them realize exactly how mad I was.

    “ Uh, Mom?” Alice called from the chair beside me. “ A) you’re going to walk a path in the floor,” I growled at her, not pausing. “ B) Owen’s on his way,” I smiled. Good, now I can actually rip his head off. Alice’s voice suddenly turned acidic. “ And C) I will HATE you forever if you kill Owen.” I stopped.

    That was the single worst thing my children could say to me, that they hated me. I stopped breathing. A part of me noted that this was just a threat, but the other part told me that when they hated, they hated a lot.

    Alice sighed and I heard her get up. She came and wrapped an arm around my shoulder and guided me to the couch. Grace automatically curled into my side, and I wrapped one arm around her.  

    Okay, so maybe I wasn’t going to kill her.

    “ Mom, I was just warning you.” Alice cuddled into my other side. “ I love you, but if you kill half of my brain-even if it’s the stupid half- I’m gonna be pretty pissed with you.” she stated. I was too relieved to comment on her language. Yes, I’d overreacted, but I did that sometimes.

    “ Sorry.: I said to both Alice and Grace. I turned to the teary-eyed, mouse-brown haired Grace and kissed the top of her head. “ You can stay with us as long as it takes, okay?” I asked her. She sniffed and nodded. “ Good. Now, go upstairs with Alice to get some clothes, take a shower, and go ahead and set yourself up in the guest bedroom.” She looked at me.

    “ What about Owen?” she asked in a soft voice. I sighed.