Not even Are you happy?
Just…
Where are we supposed to stay?
I finally answered the question they had been asking for years without realizing it.
“Not with me.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears.
“You ruined Christmas.”
“No.”
I shook my head gently.
“I stopped letting you ruin mine.”
Her expression hardened instantly.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The selfishness.”
Michael, who had been loading the last suitcase into our car, quietly walked over and stood beside me.
“No,” he said.
“What you’re seeing is someone who finally stopped confusing love with exhaustion.”
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew he was right.
Mom looked around desperately.
“What are we going to do now?”
Chris sighed.
“All the hotels are probably booked.”
Ashley crossed her arms.
“This is unbelievable.”
Rebecca looked increasingly uncomfortable.
“I… can give you the number for a nearby hotel?”
“No, thank you,” my mother answered coldly.
She wasn’t angry at Rebecca.
