My sister Lauren set down her glass and joined in before Mom had to say anything else. She sounded almost patient, which made it worse.
“Hannah, she’s not really family,” she said.
Sophie was only a few feet away.
I watched her little hands stop over the Cracker Tower.
Lauren kept going in the same calm voice people use when explaining a seating chart to hotel staff.
The cabins were booked. The activity counts were turned in. We reserved for the family kids. We just assumed Michael would do something with his side for her.
Dad looked down at his plate like he suddenly found the mashed potatoes very interesting.
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck and said nothing.
Mom nodded once, as if Lauren had stated something obvious and reasonable.
Sophie didn’t look up, but she didn’t move either. Her whole body went still in that way children get still when they are listening much harder than the adults want to admit.
