Everyone turned.
My mother dropped the bone.
It landed on the carpet.
“Niall,” she said.
I looked at Maia.
There was blood on the front of her dress.
A thin red line had run from the corner of her mouth down toward her collar.
Something inside me broke.
I crossed the room.
“Get away from her.”
My mother stared at me.
“She needs to learn what happens when she embarrasses this family.”
I didn’t answer.
I dropped to my knees.
“Maia.”
She tried to speak.
Coughed.
Then covered her mouth again.
I saw another tiny spot of blood.
“Jesus Christ.”
I reached under the table.
“Come here.”
She didn’t move.
“Maia, it’s me.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I couldn’t get out.”
I looked behind her.
One of the dining chairs had been pushed sideways.
Wedged directly behind her.
Blocking the easiest way out.
I slowly stood.
I looked at Dermot.
He was standing near the back door.
My wife’s phone was in his hand.
“Give me that.”
He didn’t move.
“Dermot.”
He placed the phone on the counter.
I walked over and picked it up.
Then I looked around the room.
Six people.
Six witnesses.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
