This Motherless Land

Content Warning: This section of the text depicts racism.

Liv works at a daycare called It Takes a Village. She keeps lists and has a routine, which keeps her from slipping back into her old habits. One thing she does is call Margot each week and listen as Margot continues to criticize her and complain about Grandma’s unwillingness to sell The Ring.

Liv picks Grandma up from the hospital, as she recently had a stroke. She realizes that some of Grandma’s wit is gone and that she has become more “nostalgic,” but is recovering well. Grandma frequently talks about Kate, which Liv enjoys.

Liv then takes a bus to see her mother. She learns that Margot has taken out a new mortgage on the home they’re staying in—which does not even belong to her. Margot had Dominic forge Grandma’s signature while she was in the hospital. When Liv calls it “theft,” Margot brings up that Liv once stole her pearl necklace, so Liv agrees not to tell Grandma.

On Monday, one of the fathers picks up his daughter, Lola, from daycare. Liv has secretly been attracted to him since the beginning, but assumes he is married. He apologizes for being late and introduces himself as Kunle Soyega.