Daniel looked toward Melissa.
That was answer enough.
“Oh my God.”
Lily whispered.
Walter shook his head.
“Sweetheart.”
“No.”
She said.
“Don’t.”
Then she looked at her father.
“You moved Grandpa’s car?”
Daniel sighed.
“To the vendor lot.”
“Why?”
“Parking.”
“There are empty spaces out front.”
“It was fuller before.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
Lily had inherited Evelyn’s ability to detect nonsense almost instantly.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Lily.”
“This is your engagement party.”
“Exactly.”
She replied.
“So why is everybody making my grandfather feel like he isn’t supposed to be seen at it?”
A nearby conversation quieted.
Walter noticed.
He hated that.
“Lily.”
He said.
“Please.”
She looked at him.
His expression stopped her.
Walter did not want a public confrontation.
Not because Melissa and Daniel deserved protection.
Because humiliation did not become kinder when reversed.
Lily understood.
She took a breath.
Then said quietly:
“Grandpa, walk with me.”
They moved toward the side garden.
Away from the tables.
Ethan followed after a moment.
Melissa began to follow too.
Lily turned.
“Mom.”
“Please.”
“Give me five minutes.”
Melissa looked wounded.
But stopped.
They reached the stone path beside the greenhouse.
Lily faced Walter.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Grandpa.”
“I brought a pie.”
“Your mother thought it didn’t fit the dessert table.”
“She asked me to put it away.”
“The car?”
“Same problem.”
Lily closed her eyes.
Ethan stood beside her.
His jaw tightened.
Walter noticed.
“You don’t need to get angry.”
Walter told him.
“I’m not angry at you.”
Ethan said.
“I know.”
Lily asked:
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because you’re celebrating.”
“That’s why I wanted you here.”
“I’m here.”
“No.”
She replied.
“You’re physically here.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
Walter looked down.
She touched his arm.
“Grandpa.”
“Were you going to leave?”
He did not answer.
“Were you?”
“Maybe.”
Her eyes filled.
“Why?”
Walter took a long breath.
“I started feeling like I brought the wrong version of myself.”
Lily’s face crumpled slightly.
Walter regretted saying it immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
She whispered.
“Don’t apologize.”
“I’m just old.”
“That’s not—”
“You people are building a different life.”
“A nice one.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I don’t always know how to fit into it.”
Lily stared at him.
“You fit because you’re my grandfather.”
Walter smiled sadly.
“Life gets more complicated than that.”
“No.”
She said.
“People make it more complicated.”
Ethan finally spoke.
“Walter.”