But Marjorie lifted her chin. “I thought that nearly dying might be the wake-up call Daniel needed to remember who he was before he settled for you.”
My jaw dropped. “Settled? How dare you!”
Marjorie laughed coldly. “It’s true. You’re a dead weight, but Vanessa always knew how to make him happy.”
A nurse appeared at the doorway, took one look at us, and stopped. “Is everything okay in here?”
“No.” I pointed at Vanessa. “I want this woman removed from his visitor list.”
Daniel moved then. His eyes fluttered open halfway. Marjorie was at his side in a flash.
“Let’s see what Daniel has to say about that!” She crowed.
Daniel’s voice was rough and barely there. “Mom?”
Before Marjorie could say anything, I moved forward. “Daniel, did you ask Vanessa to come here?”
“Who?” he scanned the room. When he spotted Vanessa, he frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Vanessa swallowed. “Your mother called me. She said you needed people who truly loved you.”
Daniel squeezed his eyes shut. “This has to be some kind of bizarre dream.”
Evie stepped forward. “Daddy, Grandma said that lady could be my better mommy. Is that true?”
Daniel’s eyes snapped back open. He glared at Marjorie.
Marjorie said quickly, “Daniel. It’s time you woke up and realized that you made the wrong choice—”
“No. Claire is my wife. I chose her with my whole heart on the day I proposed, and I choose her now. Get out, Mom.” He pointed toward the door. “You, too, Vanessa.”
Vanessa’s face reddened. “I came because I cared.”
“Then you should have cared enough not to let my daughter think her mother could be replaced.”
Vanessa grabbed her purse and walked out without looking at me.
Marjorie stared at him like she had been slapped. Then she looked at me with naked resentment.
“No. You did that yourself.” I turned back to the nurse, who was still standing near the door. “Please update the visitor list to exclude those two.”
The nurse nodded. “I’ll update it immediately.”
Marjorie left without another word.
The room fell silent except for the heart monitor. Then Daniel reached for my hand. His fingers were cold and shaky.
