I walked into the spare room without another word, shut the door, and started packing.

The second the door closed, I heard Lucia outside:

"Ginny, your mother really has no sense at all. She's staying in our home. Paying a little for lodging is perfectly normal, isn't it?"

"Who's that long face for? Acting like we owe her something."

Virginia couldn't have cared less:

"Just ignore her, Mom. That's how she is."

*That's how she is.*

I'd thought my heart was already numb. Those four words proved it wasn't.

So this was what I was to my daughter.

This was the child I'd raised alone, pouring everything I had into her.

Then Jeffrey's voice dropped low:

"Ginny, were you actually going to bring your mom along to dinner?"

"Eating out, one extra person, that's a lot more money."

A beat of silence on the other side of the door.

Then Virginia's answer, barely above a whisper:

"Well, you have to at least go through the motions, right? Otherwise it looks bad."

"Besides, I know my mom. If she comes, she'll pay."

My hands froze on the clothes I was folding.

So the invitation to dinner was about getting me to pay.

This was my daughter.

Even a meal came with a calculation behind it.

In the living room, the three of them were already deciding where to eat, where to go afterward.

Lucia's voice carried the loudest:

"A whole month out and about, my skin's gotten so rough. I need a facial later."

Virginia perked up immediately, eager to please:

"Absolutely, Mom. You must be exhausted from all that traveling. We just made fifteen thousand, so after your facial, you and Jeff should go get a nice massage. Treat yourselves."

Then came Jeffrey's gratified voice:

"Ginny, you really are the sensible one. So much more considerate than your mother."

Once the plan was settled, the three of them couldn't wait to leave.

Virginia cracked the door open, leaning halfway in to remind me:

"Mom, Jeff and I are heading out with his mother and the baby. When you're done packing, make sure you lock up."

"Just leave the key under the doormat."

Lucia hollered from the living room:

"And throw out everything you've used!"

I nodded.

"Okay."

And just like that, the three of them swept out the door with the baby, all smiles.

After I finished packing my bags, I walked into the living room and looked around slowly.

Then I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.

"I need you to do something for me."