I closed my eyes briefly.Family
“Then what?”
“They were doing this family ceremony afterward.”
“What family ceremony?”
“A unity candle.”
I already hated where this was going.
“Apparently Ryan and Lina had a candle, and Amelia had a smaller one.”
“Why?”
“She was supposed to light hers from theirs.”
I gripped my phone.
“What was that supposed to mean?”
Nora hesitated.
“Lina said it symbolized them becoming one family.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
“What did Amelia do?”
“She asked where you go.”
I stopped breathing for a second.
“What?”
“In front of everybody.”
Nora’s voice softened.
“She said, ‘If lighting this means we’re one family now, where does Mom go?’”
I sat down.
“What did Ryan say?”
“He told her you weren’t going anywhere. That you’re always her mother.”
“And?”
“Amelia asked why you weren’t included in the family part.”
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
