Brittany’s face changed.
“I wasn’t trying to replace you.”
“Then why did you remove his portrait?”
“It didn’t fit the decorations. I thought…”
She stopped.
“You thought you’d be living here soon,” I finished.
She looked away.
“Yes.”
I turned to Daniel.
“You knew she took it down?”
He nodded.
“And you let her?”
“It was only for the party.”
“Don’t insult me by pretending this was only about a party.”
His eyes filled.
“Mom, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Then tell me something. If I hadn’t come home today, when were you going to tell me about the apartment?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
I waited.
Finally, he whispered, “I was hoping you’d offer to let us stay.”
“And if I didn’t?”
He looked at Brittany’s pregnant belly.
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to turn us away.”
There it was.
The truth I’d been struggling to understand.
