Including me.
Part Thirteen: One Picture
Kristen picked up the folded paper beside her plate and held it up with a shaky, rueful smile.
“For what it’s worth, I am definitely not giving this toast.”
A ripple of nervous laughter moved through the room, the first sound anyone had made in what felt like an hour.
Emma laughed too. Just once. But it was real.
“Thank you.”
Kristen hesitated. “And I’ll stay out of the family pictures.”
“You don’t have to,” Emma said.
Kristen blinked, surprised.
Emma shook her head gently. “Stay in one.”
“One?”
“You’re Dad’s wife. That makes you part of his life.” She gave Kristen a small, honest smile. “We don’t have to pretend we’re closer than we are. But we can start somewhere.”
Kristen’s eyes filled. “I’d really like that.”
Behind his booth, the DJ looked as though he desperately wished the floor would open up and swallow him. Finally, he cleared his throat.
“Um… Emma?”
She turned.
“What would you like me to do?”
Part Fourteen: Neither
The room went quiet all over again.
Tom stood on one side of the dance floor. Daniel stood on the other, having risen slowly from his chair at the back.
