“I should be alone with my mother,” I said firmly, looking directly at Harper.
“What? No! I can’t just leave her,” Harper replied, her voice sharp, stepping close to the bed of Lady Seraphina and crossing her arms defensively. “I do need to be here for her. She just woke up!”
Well, my frustration was fast rising. “She needs to talk to me, Harper. It's important. I want to know what she remembers."
She locked her jaw, and the conflict showed in her eyes. "But I'm the daughter-in-law. I have a right to be here. What if she needs me."
"Right now, she needs me," I insisted in a serious tone. "You've been there for her, great, but I need this time alone with her."
"You can't just push me away like this, Raphael!" yelled Harper, her voice rising. "I care about her too."
"I know you do," I
