When anyone mentions how she used to work for my dad, my mom says at least she’s had a job in the past, which is more than Cardi and Yates’s mother can say. My dad calls her his most expensive mistake. And I guess us children of divorce have to get exposed to some negativity. As you know, I don’t see my half brother and half sister. When Dad goes to visit them, he doesn’t bring us, and they have never been to our house. It’s too bad because I like Yates. He’s nineteen and has developmental delays and we get along. He’s really easygoing, and I think that must run in the boys in our family because it sure doesn’t run in the girls.

Cardi made a barfing noise and pulled Yates out of the room.

“Bye, you guys,” he said.

Kate ignored him, but my mom and I waved. “Bye, Yates,” I said.

My mom’s mouth was a straight line and her nostrils were flaring, which meant she was upset. She’s usually a very calm person, but she really hates it when Cardi calls her the nanny. Sometimes she tells my dad that his friends look down on her because of how she used to be a family fitness nanny, but he always tells her that some of his best friends’ wives and husbands used to be worse than that, and that in Vegas it doesn’t matter what you used to be as long as you look good now, which she does. I still remember your mom telling him to never say that again once she overheard him. Maybe it’s because your mom is from Georgia. Things are probably different there. Fewer rude British poker players. Ha. Ha.

“Hello, darlings,” said my dad, like nothing had happened. “It is so good to see you.”

You know how my dad seems sort of young for an older person? I also think he’s handsome for his age, even though he’s not skinny. Well, he was looking old even for an older person. It was sort of a shock.

My sister and mom just stood there, but I went and gave him a big hug. He got out of his chair and hugged me back. “Rodney,” he said.

Then he invited us to sit around the small table. I sat right down, and for a minute, I thought my mom and my sister were going to keep standing. If someone invites you to sit, you should really do it. Finally, they sat down, but they didn’t hug him, which was awkward.

He did that thing where he looked into each of our faces. “Well, well, well,” he said. “Isn’t this a caution?”

“That’s one word for it,” said my mom. “I brought you some of the snacks you asked for.” She shoved the big bag across the counter.

“You’re a saint,” he said.