What else was I supposed to tell her? I needed something that needed you, or else she would have started by complaining about you leaving for so long.

[Her tone has a veneer of being argumentative, but her heart's not in it. She's only replying that way because it's easier to confront Norma than to confront her feelings about Norma's death. She probably should say something warm and friendly and such like welcoming her back. Eventually.]