She looked directly at me when she said that, directly into my eyes. She wanted me to know she was talking about me, that she was telling me without saying it explicitly, that I was no longer welcome in their lives.
Michael coughed uncomfortably. “Marlene, I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Necessary what?” She interrupted him with that fake sweetness she had mastered. “I’m just sharing our good news. Is there a problem with that?”
“None,” he replied, looking down again.
And that’s when I understood. My son wasn’t just a coward. He was an accomplice. He had chosen his side a long time ago, and that side didn’t include me.
The waiter returned to clear some empty plates. He glanced at me as if wondering why I was still sitting there with nothing. I felt sorry for him. He had probably seen a thousand awkward scenes in this restaurant, but this one had to be in the top five.
“Would you like dessert?” he asked in a professional voice.
“Of course,” Marlene replied immediately. “Bring your best option for four.”
Again, four, not five. Four.