Evelyn scrutinized me.
“And Morrison?”
“He will take the money and disappear.
No drama, no revelations.”
After a long pause, she nodded. “Fine. But remember, this was your condition.
No mistakes.”
***
The next dinner, Evelyn sat at the head of the table, lifting her glass with a serene smile.
“I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday,” she began, her tone light.
“I think I may have had a little too much cider and said things I shouldn’t have.”
The room froze before everyone murmured polite agreements. Katie’s voice broke the silence.
“Grandma, are you staying in the house?”
Evelyn turned to her, smiling warmly and patting her hand.
“Yes, sweetheart. Yesterday, I was in a bad mood and made a terrible joke.
I’m so sorry if it upset anyone.”
Katie’s face lit up.
“Alright, Grandma.”
“We’re staying, all of us,” Evelyn continued, her voice softening. “We’re one big, happy family, aren’t we? That’s what Leonard wanted for us, to be together.”
Thomas picked up the conversation, telling a story.
Laughter followed.
I glanced at Jack, so carefree, unaware of the truth. I prayed he never would.
Morrison sat silently, pushing food around his plate.
His focus wasn’t on family. It was on the money Evelyn promised him.
Evelyn’s eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of triumph in her gaze.
She had won.
We all kept eating, pretending.
Under the table, Thomas squeezed my hand. I realized then—it wasn’t always right to disturb the balance of life. My family deserved peace and love, no matter what secrets I had to keep to protect it.
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Source: amomama
