He looked betrayed.
Denise tried not to smile.
Eventually he said, “Fine.”
It was the most normal exchange the three of us had ever shared.
Jonathan and Denise married in a small ceremony the following spring.
Ethan attended.
So did I.
He did not walk Denise down the aisle.
He did not stand beside Jonathan.
Nobody tried to turn the wedding into a symbolic repair of the past.
He sat with me.
At the reception, Lily dragged him onto the dance floor.
He protested for almost seven full minutes.
Then danced terribly.
I filmed it.
He threatened to revoke my phone privileges.
I reminded him I paid the bill.
Denise saw us laughing and came over.
“What happened?”
“Mom is violating my dignity.”
“I have video.”
Denise held out her hand.
“Send it.”
“You people are impossible.”
He walked away.
Denise watched him go.
Then she looked at me.
“Do you ever stop being amazed?”
