Austin leaned over and kissed my cheek.
“Sis, what happened the other night was only a misunderstanding,” he said smoothly. “Sheila was overwhelmed because of the pregnancy.”
Sheila entered last, one hand resting protectively on her stomach.
“This apartment is huge,” Sheila remarked. “Honestly, it seems a little too big for just one person, wouldn’t you agree?”
Throughout dinner, I simply listened. My mother spoke about forgiveness. My father praised family togetherness. Austin insisted that bl00d was thicker than water. Sheila casually hinted that perhaps I could help pay for renovations to their house.
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I refilled everyone’s wine glass and poured fruit juice for Sheila.
“To family,” Austin said, lifting his glass.
I raised mine as well.
“To the truth,” I replied.
Silence instantly settled over the room.
“You’re being dramatic,” Sheila laughed uneasily.
I placed my glass back onto the table.
