My illness should not become a reason for you to accept less than respect.”

She paused and gave me that familiar look I had known since childhood.

“And do not mistake my needing help with my surrendering the right to have an opinion.”

I laughed through sudden tears.

“Yes, ma’am.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on a grocery list.

She wanted peaches, ginger tea, and enough flour to make the biscuits her own mother had taught her to bake.

I added the ingredients without calculating whether Lucas would approve.