A woman holding a boarding pass stopped four feet away, her mouth falling open as she looked from me to Patricia.

“That’s a complete fabrication,” Patricia said, her cheeks turning bright red under her tan.

“Evelyn was supposed to be there.”

“Evelyn never spoke to you,” I said.

“Her security camera recorded every frame of you walking down my driveway alone while my daughter cried behind the door.”

Derek let go of his suitcase handle, and the metal grip dropped against the frame with a loud crack.

“Mom,” Derek whispered, looking around at the ring of strangers now watching them.