From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 167

“Shut up!” Janet snapped, her voice harsh with disdain. “That woman doesn’t deserve to be called ‘mom! She’s not fit to be a mother”

“Is it possible… my mom isn’t really dead?” Gerard turned to face Janet, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

“I told you, she’s not your mother” Janet blurted out, perhaps realizing her volume had risen too much. She softened her tone, “Gerry, the really is dead.”

“is my mom really dead?” Gerard suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing as be locked eyes with Janet

That look, it was too intense for an eighteen–year–old.

It was as if he was trying to see night through her.

Feeling guilty, Janet couldn’t hold his stare. “She’s dead,” she insisted.

What was the point of a woman like Carole still being alive?

If at peace!

Better off gone, better off

Never before had Janet wished as fervently for someone like Carole to succumb to some terminal Illness and pass away.

It was clear from the look on Gerard’s face that he was not satisfied.

want to see her, Gerard said, his voice steady. “Do you have a picture of

kid. That kind of woman has no right to be your mother! Only Ms. Fletcher has that right. She’s from

was right. How many eighteen–year cycles does a woman have in her

her life to Jonah; it was time Jonah settled things

no right to be my mother!” Gerard’s tone was flat. “Grandma, anyone can become

“You’ve been raised by Ms. Fletcher since you were a tot! How can you say such things about her!” Her words were accompanied by a violent

such

right from wrong when it

woman as his mother than accept Edna

was trying to

and walked over to pat her

heart. Regardless of everything, this boy still cared for his grandmother.

lamented that she didn’t have long to live. She didn’t want to see her son and grandson left alone in

good woman. Why couldn’t this father and son

firmly, “I don’t like her, and I don’t like

not?” Janet asked, puzzled.

“Just because.”

over Janet and Gerard with her

have been able to accept her easily.

Gerard’s dislike for Edna was just as strong as his

continued, “I just want to see my mom, just once. Is that possible?”

Gerard longed so much to see his