“I’m a grandfather,” my father says, looking at my mother, who cries her own tears and wipes his away. “You should have told me.”

“I know,” she says softly, “but it wasn’t my story to tell.”

“I want to put his picture up on the wall,” my mother says. “I want his picture on the wall where he belongs with our family.”

“Right after lunch, we can go into town and get frames.” My father pulls her to him.

“Well,” I say, “this was a bit easier than I thought it would be.”

“We haven’t told my mother yet,” Jacob mumbles, and I look at him. “Might as well get it over with.”

“There is no way she is going to Cristine’s house without me,” my mother practically yells. I look over at her and so does Jacob.

“Charlotte,” my father says, and my mother shakes her head.

“No.” I look at her, and she looks back at me. “You aren’t going to her house. If you want, invite her here.”

“What am I missing?” Jacob says, and I look back at my mother, wondering the same thing.

“Nothing.” My mother tries to pretend that there is nothing, but now Casey speaks up.

“If we are sharing everything, might as well share that, Mom.” He looks at her, and I know he knows. When I look at my father, even he avoids my eyes.

“What is going on?” I ask them, angry.

My mother just looks at Jacob. “I’m sorry,” she says. “When you left, your mother came over here.” She sits down, and all eyes are on her. “She was angry that you were suffering and blamed it all on Kallie.” My leg starts to tremble while she continues the story. “Everything was her fault.” My mother points at me. “Well, I told her that we should let you two work out your own things. She said some not nice things, and I’m not repeating them, but—”

I hear a roar come out of Jacob at the same time I look at my mother. “Tell me.”

“No,” she says, shaking her head.

“I want to know,” I say, and my stomach is already in my throat.

“Kallie,” my mother says softly, “it doesn’t matter now.”

I stand and drop Jacob’s hand from mine. “It matters to me.”

My mother looks at Jacob almost for permission, and he just nods at her. “I want you to know that her words were nothing but her being angry.”

“Mom.” I say her name too loud.

“That Jacob obviously didn’t love you or he would have never strayed.” My mother says the words, and although I thought I was ready for it, it cuts me right through the heart. “That if you kept your house in order, this would never have happened.”

“That fucking—” Casey says. Olivia’s hand snaps out, and she blocks his mouth.