Chapter 9

On the day Larry was discharged, Shaun came to pick him up. When he realized that Shaun only planned to take him home, he started throwing a tantrum. "I want to live with Mom and Dad. Get rid of that awful woman. She has taken Mom's place, and I don't want to see her anymore." Shaun's face fell the moment he heard that. "Knock it off, Larry. Don't ever speak like that again. From now on, Cecelia is your mom." Larry refused to listen and yelled, "She's not! She made me eat mango. She's evil." Watching Larry throw a fit, Shaun felt a headache coming on. He wanted to give Larry a place in the family, but he had never planned to let Alice move in. After all, Cecelia was his lawful wife, and he had never wavered on that. Alice bit her lip hard at those words. She held Larry close, rocking him gently until his sobs quieted. She nervously glanced up at Shaun, like she was walking on eggshells. She suggested, "How about I come over as a housekeeper, Shaun? I won't ask for anything. Just