"I never took anything from her." I said.
"I know." She said as the words came out quietly and I looked at her.
"You know?" I asked.
"Yes." She said.
I didn't know what to say. My mother had spent so long defending Charlotte that hearing her admit even this much felt strange.
"Then why did you always take her side?" I asked and Victoria looked down at the table.
"Because I thought she needed me." Victoria said.
"And I didn't?" I asked as she closed her eyes briefly.
"That's not what I meant." She said.
"It felt that way." I said.
"I know." She said as she looked up again.
"I made mistakes." She admitted.
"That's an understatement." I said and she gave me a sad smile.
"I know." She said.
For a moment, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
Then I remembered everything. The year
