Chapter 2
Melissa crossed her arms.
“The way I treat her? Are we seriously doing this?”
“Yes,” Diane said calmly.
Daniel shifted beside me.
“Mom, maybe tonight isn’t—”
“No,” Diane interrupted. “Tonight is exactly the night.”
That surprised me more than Melissa’s insult.
For years, Diane had avoided confrontation. Whenever Melissa made a cutting remark, she changed the subject. Whenever Daniel complained, Diane reminded him that family was too important to fight over little things.Apparently, insulting her mashed potatoes had ended decades of diplomacy.
Melissa pointed at me.
“She complains about me behind my back, doesn’t she?”
“No.”
She gave me a sarcastic smile.
“Sure.”
“I don’t need to. You usually say everything in front of witnesses.”
Scott nearly choked on his water.
Melissa glared at him.
He raised both hands.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Diane turned back to Melissa.
“Do you remember Emily’s birthday dinner last year?”
Melissa shrugged.
“You complained about the restaurant she chose.”
“It was overpriced.”
“And Thanksgiving?”
“The turkey was dry.”
“It wasn’t.”
Melissa rolled her eyes.
“Mom—”
“And when they remodeled their kitchen, you told Emily the cabinets looked cheap.”
“They did.”
Daniel finally put down his fork.
“Melissa.”
“What?”
“That kitchen cost us thirty-eight thousand dollars.”
She stared at him.
“That’s not even the point,” he continued. “The point is you always do this.”
Melissa laughed.
Nobody joined her.
Then Sophie asked, “Is this why Aunt Emily doesn’t come to our house anymore?”
May you like
Melissa froze.
So did I.
