And a carefully measured smile.
Emily hugged me quickly.
Her eyes slightly swollen.
Alexander squeezed my hand like a man grabbing a life raft.
And at the head of the dining table…
There she was.
Patricia.
Tight red dress. Black fan flicking open and shut like a metronome.
“Well, look who it is—the great benefactor!” she said loudly the moment she saw me, raising her glass so everyone would turn.
“Without Cathy, we wouldn’t have… well, any of this, right?”
A few of Emily’s cousins laughed awkwardly.
I walked in slowly.
Set the wine down.
And kissed Patricia on the cheek.
I felt her smile tighten.
“Good afternoon, Patricia. I see everything is… very organized.”
I scanned the overly decorated room.
She had completely ruined the original design.
“I do what I can with what I’m given,” she replied loudly.
“After all, this house belongs to my daughter and my son-in-law.”
“You just paid for it, right?”
“Anyone can pay. Class… that’s something else.”
The room went silent.
Eyes turned toward me.
Waiting.
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
Emily looked down.
Patricia smiled, satisfied.
She thought she had won something.
Something that only existed in her mind.
Without breaking eye contact, I slowly opened my leather bag.