Cecilia paused, her body halfway up from the chair, unsure whether to stay or go, prompted by the words of Hedda and Mandy.
Olive came to her rescue, "Cecilia, you've been through so much commotion and haven't eaten anything. Sit down and have a little more."
Cecilia nodded at Olive's suggestion and sat back down at the table, settling Gladys on her lap.
Seeing that everyone stayed, Hedda rolled her eyes and with a hint of sarcasm, spoke up.
She held a newspaper, which she must have pulled out of her bag before sitting down.
She tapped the paper and said, "Cecilia, Alston saved you, but now it's being portrayed as domestic violence. Can you explain why, in the dead of night, you chose to leave the hospital against medical advice and take a taxi?"
Unaware that Gladys was with Alston, Cecilia hadn't seen her daughter for a day and night.