Florence froze for a beat.
Lorraine's face changed, and her hand shot out. With a sharp crack, she knocked the phone right out of my grip.
The screen shattered on impact.
"Waving around a fake ID to fool people here?" Lorraine sneered.
"You're just after my Zane, aren't you? Does clinging to a married man really amuse you?"
She raised her voice. "Where's security? Get this madwoman out of here, now."
Two burly guards rushed over at once, seized me by the arms, and hauled me up without a word.
"What do you think you're doing!"
The furious shout came with Zane jogging up, out of breath.
I thought that at the very least he'd care about saving face.
But Zane walked straight past me, pulled Lorraine behind him to shield her, and glared.
"Sally, what are you doing here!"
The guards had my arms wrenched behind my back. I stared him down. "Isn't it obvious? I came to pick up Gabe after school."
I watched him stand there guarding Lorraine.
"Go ahead and explain. What's she to you?"
His eyes darted away, then he straightened his spine and put on an apologetic smile for Florence.
"Teacher Finch, I'm so sorry about this."
"My cousin here isn't quite right in the head. I'll take her away right now."
I was shaking with rage.
"Zane, say it again. Who am I?!"
Zane stepped closer, dropped his voice, teeth clenched.
"Sally, if you're set on making a scene, don't blame me for playing rough!"
"Lorraine's carrying a boy too, and my mother says she has to be made legitimate."
"Gabe's going to move in these elite circles from now on. You want his classmates laughing at him for having a crazy woman for a mother?"
I looked at him like I was looking at a total stranger.
Crazy mother? The postpartum depression I had was only because of him and our child!
And he, for the sake of one mistress, for the sake of so-called face, wanted to grind me under his heel and crush me into the dirt!
Zane's voice rose, deliberately loud enough for everyone around to hear.
"Sally, I'm giving you a roof and a meal out of family loyalty, so don't be so ungrateful!"
Lorraine leaned into Zane's arms, playing the part. "Honey, don't be angry, it's not worth ruining your health over."
"Sally's pitiful too. Let's just think of it as a good deed."
The parents around us chimed in. "Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are so kind. A dreadful relative like that, I'd have thrown her out ages ago."
Gabe came running out of the classroom.
"Daddy!" He threw himself into Zane's arms, then turned and saw me pinned by the guards.
"Mom—"
"Gabe!" Zane clapped a hand over his mouth, scooped him up, his eyes cold and grim.
"Call her Aunt Sally."
Gabe froze, his big eyes filled with confusion.
"Daddy, she's Mom."
Zane's face darkened.
"Gabriel Whitney, did you forget what Daddy told you? If you don't behave, that limited-edition Transformer is gone."
Gabe's body went stiff.
He looked at me, then at Zane's fierce face.
Finally, he lowered his head and said it softly.
"Aunt Sally."
In that moment.
I heard the sound of my own heart breaking.
Eight years of marriage, seven years of a mother's bond, the child I'd traded my life to have.
None of it measured up to a plastic toy.
A guard shoved hard, and I hit the ground. The rough asphalt scraped my palms raw, blood seeping out.
But the deeper pain was in my chest.
I drew a long breath and forced the sting behind my eyes back down.
I didn't want to argue anymore.
"Fine."
I stood, brushed the dirt off my hands, and picked up the phone with its shattered screen.
"Zane, Gabriel Whitney, remember what you said today."
I turned and walked out. Behind me came Lorraine's smug laughter and Zane's hollow reassurances.
Laugh all you want. Today's the last day you'll get to.
