Chapter 7
Grandma house got quiet after sunset. Light turned orange through curtains. Wind chimes ticked outside. Mom sat on one side of couch, Grandma on other, me between them. My plush with yellow foot stayed tucked under my arm. Bear sticker tugged at elbow skin. Floor in kitchen still damp where Mom mopped. Cabinet doors closed but not locked. Smell of cheap cleaner hung in air.
Grandma went to kitchen to make tea. Mom didn't follow. She stared at hallway. Hands twisted in lap. I pretended to sleep but heard breathing change. Mom stood and walked to kitchen. I stayed on couch.
I heard water run. Mug clinked against counter.
"You ever think she'd get up there?" Mom whispered. Voice low.
Grandma didn't answer right away. Spoon stirred.
"I didn't think she'd climb chair," Grandma said. "Box sat on counter two minutes. I folded laundry in living room. Thought I'd be right back."
Mom leaned against cabinet. "I knew that cabinet never locked. I knew for months. Landlord said he'd fix. I never pushed. I put glitter glue up high and called it safe. That was me being lazy."
Grandma set mug down hard. "You worked. I offered help. Don't do that."
"I did work," Mom said. "Left her here. Knew you were tired. Knew box was cheap dollar store stuff. Dr. Patel said glitter glue had warning - not for under six. I bought it for birthday craft anyway because it was glittery and she wanted it. I told myself it was fine."
Grandma's hand shook when she lifted mug. "We both left it where she could reach. Why you taking all blame now?"
"Because social worker comes tomorrow," Mom said. "They'll ask who watched her, who left box, why cabinet unlocked. I need truth clean. No twisting. I left seven AM shift. You watched alone. Box sat on counter. She climbed kitchen chair. Box fell. Tubes burst. She slipped. Paint and glitter everywhere. That is story. No 'accident' word to hide it."
Grandma breathed slow. "You think they'll take her?"
Mom shook head. Tears came but she wiped fast. "County said monitoring, not removal, if we show fix. But I need say I knew cabinet broken. I need say I bought glue."
Later Mom carried me to guest bed. Room smelled like Grandma's lotion. Mom sat edge of bed and didn't turn off lamp right away. She brushed hair off my forehead where paint had been.
"Mama sorry," she whispered. "Mama knew better and didn't fix. I left you with broken cabinet and sparkly poison."
I wanted to say it was okay. I was sleepy. I reached and touched sage green sleeve. Paint had stained it earlier at hospital. Stain still there.
"You slept through hospital ride," she said. "I held you so tight pink. Grandma said stop don't touch her like I hurt you. I was mad. But she was scared too."
She kissed top of my head. Hand rested on my knee where green paint had been washed off. Skin pink underneath.
May you like
"I tell lady tomorrow I left you unattended with unlocked cabinet and cheap glue. No lie," she said. "Promise."
Light clicked off. Hallway stayed lit. Mom stayed in doorway long time watching me breathe.
