After Eleanor left, my mom frowned and asked, confused, "I was in the middle of talking to her - why'd she just walk out like that? Does she look down on me or something?"

"You're overthinking it," I said weakly. "There's nothing else going on now, so you should head back. Next time you want to visit, just give me a call first so I can be prepared."

"Prepared? Since when does a mother need an appointment to see her own daughter?" My mom's voice rose, irritation ...