Chapter 23
โMom, we screwed up. Let us fix this.โ Maelis winced, remembering Zinniaโs chilling attitude. It haunted her.
Maelis was regretful, thinking, โNo matter what Zinnia did, she is still my kid. Shouldnโt I cut her some slack? Weโd just reunited, why even consider sending her away? With patience, everything will be fine.
โSure, Zinnia bullied Betty, but Betty is sweet. If Zinnia apologized, Betty would forgive her. We will all live happily. So why did I agree to kick her out?โ
Regret consumed Maelis. Sheโd erred. For two days, she lay sleepless, fearing her harsh words had broken Zinniaโs heart and severed their bond.
When sleep finally came, sheโd startle awake from nightmares of Zinniaโs rejection. Anxiety and fear gnawed at her.
โAsk her, not me,โ Sofia snapped.
โZinnia, come home. Letโs fix this,โ Maelis pleaded, eyes desperate.
โGrandma, I donโt have to stay.โ Zinnia avoided Maelisโs gaze, turning to Sofia. Her voice quivered, fragile as butterfly wings. Add pressure, theyโd tearโeach rip a knife to the heart. The wound was permanent.
Zinnia figured Sofia didnโt want her anymore, so sheโd called the Shaws to pick her up. But it was unnecessary. They didnโt want her. Sheโd leave. No more being tossed like an old soccer ball.
She hated this feeling.
โZinnia, this is always your home.โ Sofia gripped Zinniaโs hands tightly. โStay as long as you like. If you donโt want to go back, you donโt have to. This old woman can still tend to her precious sunflower.โ
Zinnia bit her lip. โHm.โ
But Sofia felt Zinniaโs mood sour. The two-day closeness was gone, replaced by the formal distance of her first arrival at the Lynn residence.
โGet out!โ Sofia waved them away. โWeโll raise Zinnia fine. If you canโt handle two daughters, weโll take one. Sheโll have everything here.โ
Sofia regretted letting Maelis visit. Maelis just said she wanted to check on Zinnia, not take her. No one would feel anything but crushed hearing their parents talk about dumping them.
โZinnia, youโre not coming home?โ Howardโs face fell. Theyโd driven all this wayโwhyโd she refuse? Even if she was mad, enough was enough.
โCome home, Zinnia.โ Maelis clutched her chest, feeling like her heart was being wrung. Her own kid pushed her away. It was worse than any knife.
โThatโs not my home,โ Zinnia said finally. โNot here. Her home was in Tareston, where her master and she lived.
โI messed up.โ Maelisโs eyes welled. โLast time, I blamed you without knowing. Iโm sorry. Please forgive me.โ Her voice cracked.
Zinnia turned away and didnโt want them anymore. Maelis gripped her blouse, bitter regret choking her.
โI forgive you. Stop crying,โ Zinnia frowned at Maelisโs red eyes. โYou not caring isnโt your fault. But itโs not mine either. Justโฆ pretend you never found me.โ She didnโt know why Maelis cried her eyes out.
โZinniaโฆโ Maelisโs voice broke.
โDonโt look at me like that, I didnโt do anything. You rejected me first. I told youโif you didnโt want me, donโt bring me back.
โIf you ever donโt want me again, just say so, Iโll leave.โ Zinnia tilted her head, feeling confused. They were the ones sending her away. If anyone should cry, it was her.
From day one, Zinniaโd been clear: if they got tired of her, tell her. Sheโd go. Knew better than to expect endless patience. Even families had limits. Only her master ever gave her that.
But her master left her later. Zinnia blinked, hiding the hurt.
Howard caught the flicker of sadness in Zinniaโs eyes. It stung him. He wondered, โWhatโs she sad about? We came to take her home. Sheโs the one refusing. So why that look?โ
โZinnia, youโre not coming back?โ Howardโs jaw tightened. โWeโll stop the Betty drama. Just apologize when we get home. Act right, and we wonโt send you away.โ
โIโm not saying sorry for something I didnโt do. If you want the truth, go find it yourself instead of believing every gossip you hear.โ Zinnia stared Howard down. She wasnโt about to apologize for Bettyโs shady tricks. If they couldnโt see through Betty, tough luck.
โYou!โ Howardโs guilt melted away, replaced by anger. He wasnโt sure if it was because sheโd called him out or because she refused to come home.
โCut it out! Why should Zinnia apologize for something she didnโt do? Use your brain and check if Bettyโs stories hold water before you point fingers. Just because you messed up this time doesnโt mean you were right before.
โYouโll regret this. Zinniaโs staying here with meโweโll take care of her.โ Sofia had heard enough. โGet out. Now.โ