Halfway down, there’s a giant photograph of a military group. I scan the faces until I find Ward, but it’s not the same Ward I know. This one feels dark, beaten, and broken down. I can feel the weight on his shoulders, and the pain in his heart.
Whatever happened over there was awful.
I keep walking, letting Hallee pull me through the endless hallways.
We round the corner where a set of double doors stands wide open, displaying a dining room that belongs in a modern-day castle, all dark wood floors and bright white walls. The focal point in this room is a chandelier the size of my car, hanging right over top of the large rectangular table.
I hope that thing doesn’t fall.
Hallee pulls me forward and I stumble over the edge of a rug. I glance around the room, hoping to find a familiar face, but the first one to greet me belongs to the other woman I met outside the ice cream shop.
The ex.
What a fun family dinner.
Twenty Five
Ward
It’squietwhenCrewand I enter the dining room. I’m halfway to Lyndi before I discover why.
Sophie is here.
I grind my teeth together and slide an arm around my girlfriend.
Fakegirlfriend.
I don’t know how much clearer I need to make it for my mother before she stops this madness. I guess I could pull out some PDA. My heart races at the thought. It’s been years since I’ve kissed a woman. I probably wouldn’t be able to sell it.
I lean in next to Lyndi’s ear, my nose brushing her hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d be here.”
“It’s okay,” she says, shooting me a tight smile. I know it’s not. She already felt uncomfortable coming here, and Sophie’s presence only makes it so much worse.
Looks like I’ll be having that talk with my mother after all.
“Sit, sit,” Mom commands us.
There’s an open seat beside Sophie and I purposely avoid it, opting to sit on the opposite end of the table with Lyndi and Crew.
My mother’s glare is imperceptible to the naked eye, but I know a Claire glare when I see one. I also don’t care.
“Well, let’s say grace, shall we?” Mother says.
My father prays and then we begin the painstaking task of politely passing each plate of food. My nieces are sitting next to my mother, well-behaved and proper for four-year-old girls. I’m on the other side of my mom, with Crew between me and Lyndi. Collins and Jeremy sit at the opposite end of the table by my dad, across from Sophie and the empty seat.
“I want chicken!” Crew says as it passes in front of him.
“That’s turkey,” my mom says.
“He calls every meat chicken,” Lyndi clarifies.
My mother responds with a judgmental sounding, “Harumph.”
“I like chicken too.” Mollee grins at Crew from across the table.
“So, Ward,” Mom sits up straighter and eyes me. “We’ve been discussing the gala and are thinking about expanding the charity outreach this year. Sophie had a marvelous idea about including the fire station in the efforts.”
As long as we don’t have to do anything, the guys won’t mind. “Sure.” We could use a few new hoses.
