“I thought that’s what you were doing?” Marin asks.
“Are you OK? You look different.” Marin realizes that Gia has registered how her hair is tangled and that she is wearing the same jeans and T-shirt she had on last night.
“I’m fine,” Marin lies. She is not fine. She is scared and unsure, but mostly angry. Furious at whoever did this to her daughter. She must tread carefully. If she alienates Gia, she chances losing more than she bargained for. “How was school?”
Gia lets out a small laugh, filled with incredulity. Stealing a glance at the watch on her wrist, she mutters, “Great, Mom, as always. But seriously, I have to study.” She stands to leave and makes it to the door before Marin stops her.
“Sit down. I’m not done talking to you.” It is harsher than she wanted, but having never been on this ride before, she is unsure where to hold on to assure their safety. “I will tell you when we are done.”
“Wow.” Gia rolls her eyes and retakes her seat. “OK. Is Dad home?”
Her savior, Marin realizes. The one who will protect Gia from Marin. “He left for a meeting this morning, remember?”
“Right.” Gia does not look happy. “I totally forgot.” She starts to tap her foot before something occurs to her. “Is this about Dada?” She uses the traditional name for grandfather. Brent insisted it was Gia’s first word.
Gia melts into the sofa, concern covering her. Seeing her, Marin suddenly remembers the little girl she was. She would cry when she scraped her knee and demanded ice for every injury, no matter how small the bruise. Marin lowers her voice, yearning to reach out but unable to do so. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course I am.” Gia’s visible anger dissipates at Marin’s softening. “Mom, please talk to me.” Gia’s lower lip starts to tremble. The unknown frightens her more. “Has Dada taken a turn for the worse?”
“You love him.” Marin knows her daughter loves her grandfather. Gia has never experienced his violence, never even witnessed it. Since her birth, Brent would spend hours playing with her. After her delivery, he stood staring into the hospital nursery window at his only grandchild. When Gia came home, he would tickle her feet, calling everyone to watch how she laughed in response. He never came over without a toy in hand. Marin would watch them, wondering how different life would be if that was the man she had known growing up.
“He’s my grandfather.” Gia fiddles with the pleats on her skirt. She has no idea about the history between Marin and Brent. “I don’t want to lose him.”
Brent was the only grandfather Gia knew. Raj’s parents still lived in India. When he came to the States to study at university, his family stayed behind, hoping their son would return home. When he married instead, they visited yearly. For a while, they considered moving and living with the family, but their advanced age made that impossible.
“Is he all right?” Gia repeats.
“The same,” Marin answers. Done with the delays, she says, “Your principal called me into her office yesterday.”
“What about?” Gia seems furious. “My grades are fine.”
“I know they are.” Marin chooses her words carefully. Her greatest strength, forging her way to the end zone and winning the game, now has no value. “This is about you.” Marin checks to see that the door is shut. If the housekeeper is nearby, Marin doesn’t want her overhearing. “Take off your shirt.”
“What?” The shock on her face tells Marin it is the last thing Gia expected. Her mistrust is palpable. “No way!”
“Now!” Marin snaps, furious to see the chariness in her daughter’s eyes. A distrust Marin never earned accompanies it. In the silence that follows, Marin tallies each of their breaths. The showdown continues, leading them toward an end neither of them can predict. But Marin is tired of waiting, of wondering.