“No.”
Ethan answered immediately.
“I’m mad at Grandma because of Grandma.”
Cecilia stood.
“I think we should go.”
For the first time, she looked shaken.
Not convinced.
Not apologetic.
But shaken.
Jared came inside when he saw everyone moving.
He looked from Cecilia to Ethan.
“What happened?”
Ethan told him.
Briefly.
Jared closed his eyes.
“Cecilia.”
She grabbed her purse.
“I am not discussing this in front of children.”
Milo looked at her.
“You already said it about me.”
That stopped her.
She didn’t answer.
After they left, we finished the birthday.
Not because everything was fine.
Alice smeared frosting on her cheek. Milo laughed. Ethan burned half the burgers because nobody had thought about the grill for several minutes.
That night, after the kids were asleep, Ethan and I sat at the kitchen table.
“I should have told you what they said years ago,” he said.
“And I should’ve seen this sooner.”
