"They can take a cab. I'll pay for it. That's still better than ripping out my son's car seat and cramming too many people in here!"
Bernice let out a mocking little laugh.
"Oh, I know you're generous, Astrid. But isn't that a bit of a waste?"
She tilted her head. "Morton Fleming can drive. Let him be your free chauffeur for the ride back. Problem solved, right?"
Morton rubbed his hands together eagerly. "She's right. I'm a great driver, steady as they come. Won't slow you down one bit."
Lambert pulled me out of the car, pleading with me to just give in.
We were still arguing when I turned around and saw Bernice and Morton climbing inside. Bernice scooped up my sleeping son. Morton wrenched the car seat buckle open with brute force and tossed the whole thing into the trunk like it was garbage.
My entire body shook with rage. I spun around to stop them.
Lambert grabbed my arm, his voice dripping with exasperation. "Astrid! It's not that big a deal. Can you just stop making a scene?"
I ripped my arm free and shouted, "Fine! You all go. I'll take my son and get a cab myself!"
Bernice clutched Tommy tighter, refusing to let go.
"Now that's just unreasonable, Astrid. You've got a perfectly good car right here. Why would you waste money on a cab?"
She scoffed. "How much does my brother have to earn before you stop burning through his money like this?"
Her voice turned sharp. "It's an eight-hour drive back. If you're really willing to let Tommy go hungry for eight hours, then go ahead. Get your cab."
Tommy woke up from all the shouting. His little face flushed crimson, his arms reaching for me, wailing at the top of his lungs.
The sight of him, scared and desperate, shattered something inside me.
Lambert seized the moment and shoved me into the car, muttering nonstop. "You always have to blow everything out of proportion. Just get in. Stop making your son suffer."
The car pulled away. Only then did Bernice hand Tommy back to me.
She leaned against the back seat with the air of someone who'd just won a war, cutting her eyes at me.
"See? Was that so hard? You had to make a whole scene and ruin everyone's mood. You're a mother now. Act like one."
I didn't bother responding. I patted Tommy's back gently, soothing him, while my mind worked through a plan.
At the next rest stop, I was taking my son and getting into a different car. No arguments.
It didn't take long for Bernice to start again.
She reached into the trunk and rummaged through my bag. Out came the imported puffs I'd packed for Tommy, along with his comfort bear.
She shoved both into Daisy Acevedo's hands. "Here, sweetie. Try these. Way better than the snacks we have at home."
I'd only brought one container of those puffs for this trip. They were Tommy's favorite.
I stopped her immediately. "Those are for Tommy. There's only one container. Don't touch them."
Bernice rolled her eyes. "It's just a kid having a snack. Do you really have to be this stingy?"
"Daisy can have something else. I'll buy her the same ones later. There are other snacks and fruit in the bag."
Daisy's lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, kicking her feet against the seat back.
"I want these! I want these!"
Bernice cooed at her daughter while tearing the package open. "It's one little box of crackers, Astrid. You're really going to die on this hill?"
She yanked too hard. Puffs spilled everywhere, crumbs scattering across the seats and floor.
She handed what was left in the container to Daisy and scooped the ones off the seat cushion into her own palm, popping them into her mouth.
"Mmm, I'll give it to the imported stuff. These are good."
She finished the puffs and went back for the rest of the snacks and fruit, helping herself to everything.
Daisy's fingers were smeared with grease and juice. She wiped them all over Tommy's comfort bear, streaking the soft fabric with sticky residue.
My chest burned. A tight, searing knot of fury sat right behind my ribs.
I'd barely managed to swallow it down when Morton pulled a cigarette from his pocket. The lighter clicked.
Acrid smoke flooded the car in seconds.
I clamped my hand over Tommy's nose and mouth and snapped:
