“I raised two children, Amelia.”

I almost changed my mind. Then Lily hugged my legs. “I go with Grandma.” So I let her.

That decision weighed on me as I carried Lily inside after the mall. I wrapped her in a blanket and turned on her favorite cartoon. She refused to let me leave the couch, so I stayed beside her until she fell asleep against my shoulder.

Only then did I check my phone. The messages had already started.

Mom: You embarrassed me in front of mall staff. Kendra: You need to stop treating Mom like she did something intentional. Mom: Call me when you calm down. Kendra: The boys are upset because you ruined their day.

Nothing about Lily. No apology. No question asking whether she had eaten, slept, or stopped crying.