Someone had scrawled the word cripple across my photo on the headboard in lipstick, and blacked out my right leg.
Viola Dickerson was lying in my bed, one leg crossed over the other.
When she saw Mom and me, she froze for a second, then wrinkled her nose like she'd smelled something foul.
"The old hag and the little cripple?"
The words were barely out before Mom seized a fistful of her hair, dragged her off the bed, and hauled her toward the door.
"Mom! Help me!"
Viola shrieked in terror.
"Melanie! Let go of her! If Gavin finds out you laid a hand on Vi, he'll divorce you for sure!"
Sarah Dickerson rushed over, her long nails sinking into Mom's arm.
Blood welled up at once.
I lunged forward and tore Sarah's hand away.
Viola took the opening and kicked the prosthetic on my right leg. I lost my balance and slammed hard into the coffee table.
Glass shattered, the sound cracking through the air.
"Rae!"
Mom's hand came up and a single slap sent Viola sprawling to the floor.
"Melanie!"
Gavin's furious shout came from the doorway.
Blood blurred my eyes.
Mom saw the slivers of glass buried in my forehead, and her voice shook.
"Gavin! Rae's hurt, she needs a hospital, get over here and pick her up!"
When Gavin didn't move, she whipped her head around.
All she caught was the sight of his back as he carried Viola out, and Sarah glancing over her shoulder with a taunting smile.
Mom's tears fell onto my face.
"Rae, don't be scared. Mommy's taking you to the hospital."
A bandage was wound around my forehead. I sat on a bench in the corridor.
The doctor shook his head at Mom.
"We're short on beds. There's honestly nothing free for your daughter right now. Take her home and keep an eye on her for now."
Mom called Gavin three times in a row. No one picked up.
When the fourth call finally connected, it was Sarah's irritated voice on the other end.
"Melanie, can you stop calling? Gavin doesn't have time for you. He's busy comforting Vi. Take that crippled daughter of yours and crawl back to your hometown."
She said it without a shred of doubt, as if she and Viola were the wife and daughter.
The call cut off.
Mom was shaking with rage.
Then she spotted Gavin standing there, a payment slip in his hand.
When he saw her coming, he stiffened, and something annoyed flickered in his eyes.
"What are you chasing me to the hospital for? Haven't you caused enough of a scene at home?"
He didn't see the wounds on Mom's arm. He didn't see me beside her, my head wrapped in bandages.
Mom drew a deep breath, her grip tightening on her phone.
"Rae's hurt and there's no ward available. I remember you have a friend who's a doctor here. Can you ask him to help?"
His gaze swept across my face, then his expression turned reluctant.
"You know I hate pulling strings. If I ask him for a favor today, I'll owe him one down the line."
Mom's lips parted. She was about to speak.
A man in a white coat strode over and dropped a hand on Gavin's shoulder.
"Gav, that ward you wanted is all set. You said you'd tutor my daughter, no taking it back now."
His eyes moved to Mom and me.
"You must be Gav's wife and daughter. You wouldn't believe it, this man hates asking anyone for anything. Never thought he'd come to me for his wife and kid."
"The bed should be just about ready. Go get her checked in before it's gone."
With that, he gave us a smile, turned, and left.
Gavin's face soured.
"Vi has her interview the day after tomorrow. She needs to be at her best, and that slap of yours was too hard. She's still complaining about feeling dizzy."
