He waved me away.
“Don’t worry. I’m almost finished.”
Carol stood in the doorway, twisting the strap of her purse.
She didn’t intervene.
When Richard finished, he pushed the remaining candy toward the boys and carried his chocolates to the front door.
“Say thank you to Grandpa,” he called.
“Thank you,” Ethan murmured.
Owen said nothing.
Richard laughed.
“Someone’s tired.”
After they left, I closed the door and turned toward my sons.
“Come here, boys.”
They followed me into the kitchen.
I sat between them and pulled their buckets closer.
“Did Grandpa tell you he was going to take your candy?”
Ethan shook his head.
“He said he deserved it.”
“Did you tell him you wanted to keep it?”
Owen looked at his brother.
Ethan answered quietly.
“I asked if I could have the big caramel bar.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I was being ungrateful.”
Owen picked at the edge of his costume.
