Later, when Mia and I were alone near the dessert table, I tried again.
“Sweetheart, Donna has had some awful relationships.”
Mia picked icing off a cupcake. “Has she?”
“Yes.”
“Like Eric?”
Mia told me everything.
I blinked. “What about Eric?”
“He was her boyfriend, right?”
“For almost three years.”
“And he cheated?”
“That’s what Donna told us.”
Donna has had some awful relationships.
“And the money?”
“She said he left her buried in debt. She needed help, so we helped. She’s family, no matter what.”
Mia frowned. “But he didn’t cheat.”
“What?”
“He didn’t.”
She’s family, no matter what.
I stared at her.
And suddenly Donna grabbing that bouquet felt like the beginning of something much bigger.
“What did you say?”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Mia, how would you know?”
The beginning of something much bigger.
Her face changed immediately. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Who told you?”
“I promised.”
“Mia.”
“No.”
I shouldn’t have said anything.
She rolled backward.
“Mia, wait.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
Then she disappeared toward Adam.
I stood there holding a cupcake I no longer wanted.
I promised.
