I took a shaky breath, then another. The tears receded. In their place came something cold and steady.
I wasn’t going to sob in the bathroom while she held court in my dining room.
I wiped my face, straightened my shoulders, and walked back out.
As I rounded the corner, I realized the room was already quiet.
Richard was sitting very straight, staring at Diane.
“Diane,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Enough.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I said enough,” he repeated. “I have listened to you insult her all day. I’ve listened to you insult her for years. I’m done.”
She laughed nervously. “Oh, Richie, don’t be so dramatic. We’re just teasing.”
He shook his head. “Throwing away the turkey she made? Calling her an orphan like it’s a punchline? That’s not teasing. That’s cruelty.”
