The birthday lunch continued, but the mood had shifted—whatever joy had been there was splintered by what happened on the porch. I took the seat beside Grandpa, not because anyone directed me to, but because it was where I always ended up. Even when I was little, I’d been the one at his side, listening to his stories, learning practical things—how to change oil, how to manage money—things no one else bothered to teach me.
Across the table, Lucy—my younger sister—refused to meet my eyes. There was no remorse on her face. Just irritation.
After dessert, Grandpa asked me to help him to his study.
The moment the door closed behind us, he lowered himself into his worn leather chair. The room carried familiar scents—tobacco and cedar—surrounded by old books and framed photographs, some of which no longer included me.
“She never asked,” he said quietly after a long silence.
“No,” I answered. “She didn’t ask me either.”
