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Abby washed her hands in the kitchen sink, thenrooiant platter of roasted chicken dressed the table A giant layer cake with fluffy white frosting towered over the basket of rolls

Abby iant dessert “What’s the occasion? You win a case or so the flat sound of her voice but unable to muster any enthusiasm

Her randpa’s birthday” Her eyes darted to her grandfather “Dad is eighty-eight Can you believe it?”

“Oh, gosh Right” Abby scratched her head, wondering how she could get out of this

She stole a peek at her grandfather The conflict she felt inside raged like a churning sea, and the last thing she wanted was to celebrate anything, let alone him

“Well, I know GG’s not with us, but we need to be thankful for the people still in our life,” her randfather’s hand a squeeze

Knowing there was no way out of this, Abby sunk into an empty chair At that s would be so much easier now She could’ve remembered hi him as the man she hardly knew

A creeping sensation crawled up her spine She could feel his eyes on her but hadn’t the strength to acknowledge him

Her lass of ice water in the crystal goblet in front of her before raising her wine glass in a toast “Bill, you want to do the honors?”

“Of course”

Her father raised his glass, as did her grandfather Abby was the last to coh go the last feeeks, but Yoel, we’re all so grateful we have you, and we hope you’ll consider staying here permanently You’re the best father-in-law anyone could ask for You were always such a great grandfather to our daughter, and I happen to know froood father, as well” With a flash of pearly whites, he turned to Abby “Anything you wanna add?”

Abby froze What could she possibly say when she was so entirelyto us for our whole lives? Thanks for changing fro such a colossal secret from us? Thanks for the totally messed-up bloodline?

She sed, then cleared her throat as her grandfather continued to stare a hole right through her She shook her head no

“Colanced at her grandfather “Apple doesn’t fall too far frorand-tree”

Abby’s gaze flickered to her father He chuckled He was joking, of course She knew this, yet his words were like daggers, and she felt every bit of pain frolass in a final toast and cheered “Here’s to Yoel!”