The first time I told her, "You don't have to ask for more food in your own house," she stared at me like I had spoken another language.
Then she said softly, "Oh."
Dinner was going well.
A month after she moved in, Ben and I hosted a family dinner so everyone could meet her.
She was nervous. I could tell by the way she kept smoothing her skirt.
"You don't have to impress anybody," I told her.
She looked up at me. "What if they don't like me?"
I touched her cheek. "Then they can answer to me."
That made her smile.
I led him into the living room.
Dinner was going well. My cousins loved her. My aunt kept offering her extra rolls. My cousin's teenage daughter, Ava, had already promised to show Lily the upstairs game room if she got overwhelmed.
Then my father arrived late.
He came in apologizing. "Traffic was awful."
I smiled and said, "Come meet Lily."
I led him into the living room.
My father looked at her face.
Lily stood up politely. "Nice to meet you, sir."
My father looked at her face.
Then at her wrist.
The glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Everyone jumped.
"Dad?" I said. "Are you okay?"
He looked terrified. Not angry. Not confused. Terrified.
Ava nodded and gently guided Lily out of the room.
Then he said, "I need to talk to you. Now. Not in front of her."
Lily froze.
