“You really called them.”
“I told you I would.”
Two officers walked up the driveway.
I stepped forward.
“That is my mother-in-law’s necklace,” I said. “She gave it to me to keep safe. Melissa took it from our garage cabinet and tried to leave with it hidden under her skirt.”
Melissa scoffed.
“Listen to her. She sounds rehearsed.”
“No,” William said, stepping beside me.
The officer turned to Elaine.
“Ma’am?”
Elaine wiped her face.
“The necklace is mine. I trusted Gaia with it.”
“And did Melissa have permission to take it?”
Elaine looked at her daughter.
“No.”
George’s voice cut through the yard.
“She did not have permission to be in the garage either.”
Melissa’s mouth twisted.
“So that’s it? Everyone is choosing her?”
“No, Melissa,” Elaine said. “Everyone is choosing the truth.”
Ryan let out a tired breath.
“Mel, stop. You did this.”
The officer asked Elaine if she wanted a report.
“Write it down,” Elaine said.
“Mom,” Melissa whispered.
Elaine’s voice trembled, but it did not break.
“No one stole your place. You threw it away every time you refused to be happy for your own family.”
Melissa looked at William.
“You’re letting Mom do this? You’re letting your wife do this?”
William’s hand settled against my back.
“Gaia isn’t doing this. You are.”
For once, Melissa had no reply.
Ryan led her toward the car. At the gate, she turned back.
“You’ll regret this.”
I stepped forward.
“No. This family is done cleaning up after you and calling it peace.”
The car pulled away.
After the officers left, the backyard stayed silent until Mason called out,
“Are we still doing fireworks?”
George sniffed.
“Absolutely. Cold hot dogs and bad behavior do not cancel America.”
Maisie giggled, and something in all of us loosened.
Elaine turned to me with the pearls in her hand.
“Only if you’re sure,” I said.
She fastened them around my neck.
“I’m more sure now.”
The first firework opened above the lake.
For years, I had tried to earn my place in that family.
That night, I finally stopped trying.
Because I already had one.
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