Patricia’s smile faltered. “What happened?” Lauren looked at her mother and felt, for the first time that evening, something dangerously close to blame. “Your picture happened.”
Patricia stared at her. “What picture?” Sophie stood before Lauren could answer. “The one you asked Mom to take without Elijah.”
Andrew looked immediately uncomfortable. His wife lowered her eyes. Patricia, however, stiffened in confusion. “I asked for a family lineage picture for my wall. That is not the same thing.”
Emma spoke from the sofa. “Elijah is family.” Patricia’s face softened toward her granddaughter. “Of course he is, sweetheart.”
“Then why isn’t he in the family picture?” The question was too simple for the adult defenses available. Patricia looked at Lauren. Lauren looked away.
Andrew set the gift he was holding onto a chair. “Where are Michael and Elijah?” he asked. “They went out,” Lauren said.
“Because of this?” Lauren hated the disbelief in his voice. “Michael overreacted.” Sophie made a sound that was half laugh, half gasp.
“Mom.” Lauren spun toward her. “Please stop.” “No. You literally told Elijah to get out of a family picture, and when he asked if he was family you doubled down. Dad asked you to apologize and you wouldn’t.”
Sophie’s eyes filled, though her voice remained steady. “How is Dad the one overreacting?” Patricia’s discomfort sharpened into defensiveness. “Nobody said the boy isn’t part of this family.”
“The boy has a name,” Andrew said quietly. That silenced everyone. Andrew was forty, less confrontational than Lauren and usually the first person to change subjects when Patricia became difficult. The fact that he had spoken at all made Lauren feel suddenly exposed.
Patricia looked wounded. “You know exactly what I meant.” “I do,” he said. “That’s the problem.”