“Chocolate. I put it in your refrigerator while everyone congratulated Kai. Nobody noticed. I took it home unopened.”
Dad set down his coffee.
“Why didn’t you say something?”
She looked puzzled.
“I did. I told you it was my birthday.”
Mom looked at the table.
“We thought the present made up for it.”
“I didn’t want a bigger present. I wanted you to remember I was there.”
Neither spoke.
“We thought the present made up for it.”
I stood.
“I’m not helping Kai explain this away. And I’m not discussing my marriage with him.”
Dad nodded slowly.
“All right.”
Mom reached for my hand.
I let her hold it briefly.
“I’m not discussing my marriage with him.”
But I wasn’t ready to pretend everything was fixed.
***
Over the following weeks, I met with a divorce attorney and arranged for Molly to collect her belongings.
