Chapter 2
"Bye, Millie. Come back soon. Don't be a stranger."
Abbey turned from the kitchen door to see Ellie standing in the kitchen.
"Hi, Ellie. I didn't hear you come in."
Ellie remained silent, staring at her mother.
"Ellie, what's wrong?"
Ellie continued to stare at her mother.
"Ellie, hon, what's the matter?"
"I heard you, mom. Why? Just tell me why?"
Abbey looked at her middle child. Surely Ellie had not overheard the conversation between her and Millie.
"Why what, sweetie?"
"Why did you kill Dad?"
Abbey's heart stopped. "I don't know what you're talking about." She turned to the sink to rinse out the cups, avoiding eye contact with her daughter.
"Mom, I heard. I heard you tell Aunt Millie that you killed Dad. Why?"
Abbey stopped what she was doing and turned to face the truth. "I didn't kill your father. He was hurting so bad and couldn't get any relief. I just helped to relieve his pain."
By now, tears were flowing freely down both women's faces.
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HIM TO RELIEVE HIS PAIN!"
Ellie tried to regain some control. "Mom, you knew exactly what you were doing. Exactly. You had the knowledge to know how much to give him to kill him. You killed my father!"
"He was MY husband."
Both women stood for a moment, staring at each other.
Finally, Ellie turned to leave. Abbey reached for her arm, but missed. She wanted to explain to Ellie that she did it out of love, but her daughter had already left.
Frozen to one spot, she heard the front door slam. Then Ellie's car start.
Trembling from the interaction, Abbey wondered what would happen next.