The woman who entered after Risa in the door has not changed at all since Lana saw her for the last time. And at the same time, something elusive pointed out that it was not the same Veronica Winterbourne that Lana knew. Her eyes looked duller, and her clothes no longer sat on her, as if it was a kind of armor. She was slightly hunching and twisted a light wool sweater around herself as if looking for support in it.
Risa, noticing how Veronica paused at the entrance, unceremoniously grabbed her arm and dragged the woman to the table, forcing Lana to raise her eyebrows in surprise. No one had ever dared to treat her mother like that. But an even greater shock was brought about by her mom's reaction to this insulting behavior. In response, she did not resist but smiled warmly at Risa.
