“You are not seriously taking their side.”
Matthew’s expression didn’t change.
“No. There is what you did, and there are the people you hurt.”
“There shouldn’t be sides here.”
“There clearly are.”
“No. There is what you did, and there are the people you hurt.”
She grabbed her purse.
At the door, she turned toward me.
For a moment, none of us knew what to do.
“I still think everyone is overreacting.”
Thomas shut the door behind her.
Matthew stayed.
For a moment, none of us knew what to do.
Then he started picking plastic pacifiers off the floor.
He gathered every piece he could find.
I crouched to help.
He said, “No.”
I looked up.
“I’ll do it.”
His voice cracked.
“You don’t have to apologize for her.”
He gathered every piece he could find.
When he finished, he sat across from me.
“Claire, I’m sorry.”
I nodded toward the door.
“You don’t have to apologize for her.”
Matthew rubbed both hands over his face.
“I’m not.”
That surprised me.
Matthew rubbed both hands over his face.
“I’m apologizing for me.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I thought I was keeping peace.”
“Dad.”
“No. I need to say this.”
He looked directly at me.
