Page 69 (1/2)

I frowned "This happened today?"

"Yeah" She hiccupped on a sob

"But that doesn’t make sense"

Her sobs stopped and she looked back up A flicker of hope was in her eyes "What do you o"

The hope doubled and she wiped away the tears now "How do you know that?"

"Because I walked in on the" I closed my eyes Here I went "His wife is here, mom"

"What?" Her voice was so soft, so sid, they felt like cement "She moved in on Sunday It’s why I moved home" I took a deep breath "She’s the caterer at the Country Club I--uh--I asked if she’d cater one of ht too"

"What?"

My eyes ide

All the sadness, loneliness, and tears were gone from hers They were alert and focused She repeated, "What did you say?"

I bitto that other birthday dinner"

"It’s your birthday, Sa your birthday"

Oh, dear I took another deep breath "I don’t want one, mom Really"

"I don’t care" Her voice was rock hard now "We’re having a family dinner and that’s that Thanks to your charade, we’ll have it on Sunday" Her head jerked in an adamant nod "That’s better Yes Yes, it is Sunday is the day for fao to church too"