My husband invited his ex-wife to his birthday because she was “still family”

“You still remember that?”

“I remember everything.”

She looked at him for a second too long.

Then she smiled.

I watched them.

There was familiarity between them that made me feel like I was sitting outside a room I wasn’t allowed to enter.

Then Claire reached across the table and touched Mark’s hand.

“You haven’t changed.”

Mark smiled.

“No.”

I looked down at my plate.

I told myself not to react.

I told myself I was pregnant.

Emotional.

Tired.

Maybe I was imagining things.

Then dinner continued.

Halfway through the meal, Claire stood up and began clearing plates even though several people were still eating.

From the kitchen, she called out,

“You’ve moved everything around in here. No wonder nobody can find anything anymore.”

I stared at Mark.

He said nothing.

I followed him into the hallway.

“Please tell her to stop,” I whispered. “She’s acting like I’m the guest in my own house.”

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