A House Divided by Kimberla Lawson Roby Page B

Mom.”
    “I had no idea we needed to make an appointment to see our own grandson, and the only reason Joe and I haven’t been down there yet is because you’d told us they weren’t allowing a lot of visitors in to see MJ. But I didn’t think that included you.”
    “Well, it does, and Vanessa has been nasty to me the whole time.”
    “I know one thing: when little MJ comes home, you and I are gonna set Miss Thing straight. We’ll handle this once and for all.”
    “I really appreciate that, Mom, because Curtis and Matthew are blaming me for everything. They’re acting like I’m the one who’s wrong. They think I’m the one who should work harder at trying to get along with that woman.”
    “You don’t have to work hard to get along with anybody! You’re MJ’s grandmother, I’m his great-grandmother, and Vanessa is going to recognize that one way or another. You shouldn’t have to tiptoe around her or anyone else when it comes to having a relationship with your own grandchild. That’s just crazy, and I’m behind you a hundred percent.”
    “I love you, Mom, and I can’t wait for you and Daddy to drive over here. This is so painful.”
    “Of course it is, and you should have told me about it from the beginning.”
    “I know, but I was hoping things would get better. Especially once Matt got here, but if anything, they’re worse.”
    “What is Racquel saying about all this?”
    “Not a lot, but you know how it is with most mothers and daughters. They’re going to stick together no matter what.”
    “Well, you just hang in there. This’ll all work out.”
    “I hope so. I’m getting ready to go inside, though, so I’ll talk to you later.”
    “I love you.”
    “I love you, too, Mom.”
    Charlotte left the parking lot, strolled through the main lobby, and pressed the elevator button. It didn’t take long before the door opened, and to her surprise, Neil was standing inside of it.
    “Hey,” he said.
    “Hey yourself. You getting off?”
    “Not now,” he said, practically undressing her with his eyes.
    Charlotte stepped on, and if she’d said she wasn’t flattered, she’d have been lying. She’d had a rough day thus far, and she needed this kind of attention.
    “So, I guess you heard,” he said, as they waited for the door to close. “Little MJ has made a lot of progress. He’s definitely going home tomorrow.”
    “Yes, Matt told us when we picked him up from the airport that it would be tomorrow or Friday.”
    “That’s what Dr. Koster had thought, but this morning he was doing so well they removed him from his incubator. They ran all sorts of tests and said he was good to go. They still wanted one more day to monitor him, though, so Racquel has decided to stay on until tomorrow, too.”
    Charlotte’s eyes watered. “Such great news. I’m so glad he’s healthy now.”
    “Are you crying?”
    “No.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Really,” she said, and the elevator opened again.
    “Let’s go down here,” he said, heading toward the small room she and he had privately spoken in on Sunday. When they walked inside, he closed the door. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
    Charlotte burst into tears just like she had the other day when she’d been talking to him, but this time she wasn’t faking. This time, she was hurt to the core.
    “I feel so left out, Neil. Things aren’t going well between Vanessa and me, so Matt is starting to distance himself. I spoke to him twice today, and not once did he tell me little MJ was going home tomorrow or that he’d been removed from the incubator. All he said was that he would call to let me know when I could visit.”
    “Why?”
    “He didn’t want Vanessa and me here at the same time.”
    “I hate things have turned out like this, but I’m sure they’ll get better.”
    Tears flowed down Charlotte’s face. “I’m so hurt.”
    Neil pulled her into his arms. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”
    Charlotte held on to him,