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must,” her mother said then took a sip of her tea.
    “I’ll be right back.” Kate headed for the staircase, ready to make another exit from her mother’s scrutinizing stares.
    “I’ll come with you since your husband and I have said everything we needed to say,” said Marnie, as she set her tea on the side table and strode in Kate’s direction. “Besides, it’s you I want to talk to.”
    “Oh goody,” Kate mumbled under her breath as she took to the stairs.
    Marnie fell in behind, like a dark cloud, raining her ever-present mood upon Kate’s back, as she ascended the wooden staircase. They made their way to the bedroom, and Kate leaned over the bassinet to pick up her son.
    “Mommy’s here, baby,” she said in a soothing voice, folding the infant in her arms.
    She sat in the rocking chair and lowered her shirt then cradled the child to her breast. His tiny cries were replaced with the sweet sounds of suckling.
    “You can hold him once I finish nursing him,” she said to her mother.
    “He has a lot of hair for a newborn,” observed Marnie, as she sat on the bed across from her daughter. “And dark, too.”
    “It will change once he gets a little older,” said Kate. “Isn’t he the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?”
    “He is precious.” She smiled and Kate smiled, too. “Are you happy, Kathryn?”
    “Yes, Mother,” said Kate, hoping the question was genuine. “I am very happy.”
    “And you’re content to live with a man like Jack?”
    “I love Jack and he loves me.” She smiled down at her son and touched the tiny hand resting on her breast.
    “He is not an easy man to live with, and it takes a strong woman to keep a man like that satisfied,” said Marnie. “I am not so sure you are strong enough for the long haul.”
    Kate looked up and saw her lift a reproofing brow.
    “I can handle it,” said Kate, sitting up straighter in her seat. “He’s easier than you think.”
    “Easier than Paul?”
    “What are you getting at, Mother?” The smile left Kate’s face.
    “You and Paul had more in common, and you still had difficulty in keeping him satisfied.”
    “You haven’t changed,” Kate sighed. “You still think it’s my fault that the marriage ended.”
    “I know it takes two for a marriage to fail,” said Marnie. “Don’t fool yourself by placing the blame all in Paul’s lap.”
    “ I wasn’t the one who cheated!” Kate’s face flushed red.
    “No, but you didn’t help the situation with all your emotional swings,” stated Marnie.
    “That was from all the hormones I was taking,” said Kate, as her heart began to beat faster in her chest. “You know how much I wanted a child.”
    “Well now you have one,” said Marnie. “Let’s hope he has your brains and Jack’s good looks and not the other way around.”
    “What do you mean by that?” Her back stiffened.
    “Oh, Kathryn. Really?” Marnie shook her head then abruptly changed the subject. “I saw Paul before I left. He wanted me to tell you congratulations, and he wanted me to give you this.”
    She reached in her purse and pulled out a letter then handed it to Kate.
    “What’s this?” she asked, holding the grey envelope between her fingers.
    “I think he is a bit remorseful for hastily ending the marriage the way he did,” said Marnie.
    “Why? Isn’t he happily married to Emily?” Kate frowned as she leaned over and placed the envelope on her nightstand.
    “Aren’t you going to read it?”
    “Why should I?”
    “He left Emily,” stated Marnie.
    “So what does that have to do with me?” Kate felt an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach.
    “He left her, shortly after he heard you moved out to this God-forsaken town,” continued Marnie. “Kathryn, I am of the opinion that Paul feels he made a mistake ending your marriage.”
    “Well it’s a little late for that, don’t you think,” snapped her daughter. “I’m happily married to Jack and we have a son together.”
    “Just