Vera Xavier immediately pushed Cara Preston into Rona Langdon's arms. "Mom, I'm leaving Cara with you. I'm off to school!"
She turned and left without a backward glance.
Rona Langdon poked Cara Preston on the forehead. "You useless girl. Getting sick over something so trivial. Now you're wasting my money again. Just look at you! How many times have you been to the hospital this month?"
Cara Preston bit her lip, silent. Her eyes, fixed on Vera Xavier's retreating back, were filled with venom. She clenched her fists tightly. 'This is all Vera's fault!'
'If Vera had just sat still, I never would have fallen into the pond. And if I hadn't fallen into the pond, I wouldn't have gotten sick and had to suffer like this!'
'Vera got me sick, and she didn't even stay to take care of me. She just went to school! How could she be so awful!'
She said softly, "Mom, I'm just useless. I'm sorry for making you angry. It's all my fault."
