He really hadn’t known. Neither of us had understood what their politeness was hiding.
I leaned back.
Ethan looked at me warily.
I turned to Cecilia.
“Then I think I understand your rules.”
“My rules?”
“Milo isn’t your grandson because he isn’t Ethan’s biological child.”
“That’s not quite what I said.”
“That’s exactly WHAT you said.”
I continued before she could interrupt.
“So by that logic, I’m not really your family either.”
She frowned.
“Of course you’re family. You’re my daughter-in-law.”
“But I’m not biologically related to you.”
“That’s different. You married Ethan.”
“Right. Marriage made me family.”
She paused.
I watched her realize where I was going.
“If marriage can make an unrelated adult family,” I said, “why can’t six years of Ethan raising Milo make him part of your family?”
“Children are different.”
“Why?”
“They just are.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Cecilia pushed her tea away.
“I don’t have to justify loving my granddaughter.”
