Chapter 10 - THE HANDPRINT WAS THE LAST THINGThe day Lorraine slapped Chloe was her own birthday luncheon.
Not Chloe’s.
The chocolate cake was Lorraine’s favorite.
Chloe reached for plastic bowl filled with berries.
It slipped.
Berries scattered.
Lorraine snapped.
“You never behave.”
Chloe began crying from her tone.
Mark looked up from phone.
“Mom, she’s two.”
Lorraine grabbed bowl.
Chloe reached again.
Then Lorraine slapped her.
One open hand.
Not severe injury.
Enough to leave red print.
Mark froze.
“Mom…”
Lorraine stared at him.
“What?”
He should have stood.
Picked Chloe up.
Called Olivia.
Taken daughter away.
Instead he looked toward hallway.
Fear Olivia would return.
Fear his mother would explode.
Fear everything.
So he did what he had always done.
Nothing.
He sat.
Looked at phone.
Pretended moment would pass.
Then Olivia walked in.
And marriage ended in thirteen seconds.
Not legally.
But emotionally.
She saw daughter’s cheek.
Saw husband.
Saw Lorraine.
And finally saw whole system clearly.
The bag she packed because of Vanessa left apartment that same afternoon.
Lorraine thought Olivia was overreacting to slap.
Mark knew better.
Because as Olivia closed door, phone in his hand buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
Did you tell her yet?
May you like
He stared.
Too late.
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