He hadn’t expected privacy.
“Say that again,” I said.
He frowned. “What?”
“
Say her name like that again.”
My mother touched Michael’s arm. “Don’t.”
That small warning told me she had seen what I was trying not to show.
Jennifer crossed her arms. “Daniel, you have no idea what it’s been like here. Emma is not helpless. She’s been difficult for years. She refuses to participate, refuses to dress properly for events, embarrasses Mother in front of guests—”
“Because I wouldn’t wear your clothes,” Emma said from behind me.
We all turned.
She had opened the door.
Her face was still pale, but she stood upright now, no longer looking at the floor.
Jennifer blinked. “Excuse me?”
Emma stepped into the hallway. “You told people I was unstable because I didn’t want to attend dinners where you introduced me as Daniel’s charity case.”
