“That’s enough, Mom,” Ethan said.

Sylvia jerked back an inch, her mouth dropping open in surprise.

“I’m defending you, Ethan.”

“You’re not defending me,” Ethan said, his voice flat and steady, without its usual trailing tone.

“You’re trying to break up my marriage because I refused to leave this hospital with you.”

“I saved you four hundred dollars a month!” Sylvia hissed, stepping toward him with her hand outstretched.

“I covered for you when you were crying on the phone!”