Nathan had worried she felt shut out.
Then, for the final minute of the song, I would join them.
Not because anyone owed Isabella proof that she mattered.
I had agreed because I wanted her to know there was room for both of us in Nathan’s family.
It was supposed to be a surprise.
I wanted her to know there was room for both of us in Nathan’s family.
***
Isabella stared at him.
“Andrea was going to join our dance?”
“Yes.”
“She agreed to that?”
“She wanted to.”
Then Nathan said the words that finally drained the color from his mother’s face.
“I canceled that part.”
“She agreed to that?”
Isabella blinked.
“You what?”
“You still get our dance. I promised you that.”
“Nathan.”
“But Andrea isn’t joining us.”
Isabella glanced toward the staircase.
“You’re punishing me.”
“No.”
“You’re punishing me.”
“You’re choosing her over your own mother.”
“This isn’t me choosing Andrea over you, Mom.” He held up the phone. “This is me telling you what you did isn’t okay.”
She looked at the photograph again.
“You’re choosing her over your own mother.”
Nathan lowered the phone.
“You don’t get to hurt her because you want her to make you feel included.”
