Lucas lowered his eyes.
Cindy stepped forward.
“This is exactly the kind of overreaction we’re talking about. Lucas gets upset, and suddenly everyone is supposed to treat him as though—”
I interrupted her.
“You don’t get to use his reaction to what happened as proof that he deserved itShe fell silent.
I turned back to Derek.
“Whatever disagreement you have with me, you don’t get to make our son feel that his own father doesn’t believe him.”
“I was trying to help,” Derek insisted.
Lucas finally spoke.
“You didn’t ask me.”
His voice caught on the words, but he continued.
“You talked to her. You talked to Tyler. You didn’t ask me what happened.”
Derek reached toward him.
Lucas stepped back.
“Don’t.”
My husband stopped immediately.
For the first time that evening, he seemed to understand that this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding he could smooth over with a few reassuring words.
