Chapter 5 - Sunday at Diane’s House
Diane announced a family lunch as if invitations could erase consequences.
Her message arrived in the group chat on Saturday morning.
We have all had time to calm down. Sunday at one. JJ needs normalcy.
I stared at the screen.
Then I replied.
JJ will not be attending a conversation about the adults. Brandon and I can come at two if everyone agrees he will stay with Rachel.
Kelsey immediately answered.
This is getting ridiculous.
Frank wrote next.
Two works.
For once, nobody followed Diane.
Brandon met me outside his parents’ house. We arrived separately.
He looked exhausted.
I was past finding that persuasive.
Diane had arranged cookies on the coffee table. She wore pearls and the expression she used when a restaurant failed to honor a reservation.
Kelsey sat beside her.
Frank remained near the window.
I placed copies of the loan agreement and Linda’s letter on the table.
Diane’s eyes moved toward the envelope.
“You went through my belongings?”
“Frank found a letter addressed to me.”
“It was addressed to both of you.”
“Then half of it was still mine.”
She folded her hands.
“I was protecting a difficult situation.”
“From whom?”
“You wouldn’t have understood.”
I let the silence stretch.
Finally, I asked, “Did you tell Brandon to ask me about the name at the hospital?”
Brandon shifted beside me.
Diane lifted her chin.
“He was grieving.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
She looked at him.
For the first time, he did not rescue her.
“She suggested it before the birth,” he said.
The room went still.
I turned toward him.
“When?”
“A week before.”
I could hear the kitchen clock.
My hospital gown. The IV. My numb legs. His tears.
He had not been struck by a sudden feeling while holding our newborn.
He had carried the request into that room.
“You waited until then.”
He began to cry.
“Yes.”
Diane leaned forward.
“Don’t make it sound calculated. He wanted a beautiful tribute.”
“I was recovering from surgery.”
“You could have said no.”
Frank spoke before I could.
“Enough, Diane.”
She turned sharply.
He stepped away from the window.
“She trusted us. You don’t get to turn that into her mistake.”
Kelsey stared at her father.
I had never heard him speak to Diane that way.
Diane’s face reddened.
“After everything we’ve done for them—”
“Which brings us to the loan,” I said.
She looked offended.
“I am entitled to be repaid.”
“Then you should have called it a loan when I was present.”
“Brandon handled the arrangement.”
“And you continued calling it a gift.”
“That’s a matter of wording.”
“No,” Brandon said.
He wiped his face.
“It isn’t.”
Diane stared at him.
“I signed because I wanted the house. I hid it because I didn’t want Hannah to question it. You helped me do both.”
His voice shook, but he continued.
“And you kept Linda’s letter.”
“She had no business interfering.”
“She was thanking my wife.”
I looked at him, startled by how much I wanted those words to matter.
Then I remembered how long they had taken.
Kelsey stood.
“Jordan was practically family. You can’t expect everyone to pretend she didn’t exist.”
I turned to her.
“I never asked that.”
“You’re upset about a dead woman.”
“I’m upset about living people who lied to me.”
Frank nodded once.
Kelsey looked away.
I gathered the documents.
“JJ’s name belongs to him now. Nobody will tell him he owes someone a resemblance, a profession, or a future because of it.”
Diane opened her mouth.
I continued.
“And nobody will discuss this with him or ask him to make Daddy feel better. Brandon and I will decide how visits work while we figure things out.”
“You can’t cut me out.”
“I’m telling you what respectful contact requires.”
Outside, the air smelled like rain.
Brandon followed me to my car.
“Can we try counseling?”
I looked at his parents’ house.
“Yes. But trying is not a promise that I’ll stay.”
May you like
He nodded.
For the first time since the garage, he appeared to understand that those were different things.
