“For two hours?”
Lisa’s smile tightened.
“I didn’t realize I was being judged.”
“You’re not,” I said. “But dinner became cold while we waited.”
She stepped inside and looked around the kitchen.
“It’s charming that you kept everything so simple.”
She sat at the table like an important guest expecting better service. Rose poured water, May passed the bread, and June remained silent. Lisa spoke first.
“You girls are beautiful. Look at you. My daughters.”
Rose carefully lowered the pitcher.
“You can call us by our names.”
Lisa blinked.
“Of course. Rose, May, and June.”
I looked directly at her.
“Why are you here now?”
“I already explained. I want to rebuild our relationship.”
“After twenty years?”
“I was young.”
I leaned forward.
“You were old enough to carry your purse out of the hospital and say three daughters would prevent you from marrying well.”
May spoke softly.
“Grandpa.”
But I kept my eyes on Lisa.
“Why now?”
She dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
“Because people ask questions.”
Rose’s expression changed.
“What people?”
“People in my social circle. My husband’s friends. They notice certain things.”
June’s voice turned cold.
“What things?”
Lisa sighed impatiently.
“They notice that my daughters are not part of my life. It looks strange.”
The entire room became silent.
“So this is about your reputation,” I said.
“It isn’t wrong to want peace.”
June gave a bitter laugh.
“That isn’t peace. It’s damage control.”
Lisa turned to the girls.
“You understand, don’t you? You’re adults now.”
For one frightening moment, I thought they might agree with her.
Rose stood first and lifted her glass from the table. Lisa smiled as though she had already won.
“We don’t mind speaking with you,” Rose said.
“See, Dad? They want me in their lives.”
Rose’s expression remained calm.
“But we will not pretend.”
May stood beside her.
“You sent us expensive gifts. Grandpa gave us everything else.”My throat tightened.
“Girls…”
“Let us speak,” June said. “You taught us that the truth matters.”
Lisa pushed her chair backward.
“I’m still your mother.”
Rose nodded.
“You are the woman who gave birth to us.”
“That means something.”
“It does,” May said. “But it does not mean everything.”
Lisa’s eyes hardened.
“I bought those gifts to make up for lost time.”
June folded her arms.
“Then you should have asked what we actually needed.”
“I gave you beautiful things.”
“I don’t like pearls,” Rose said.
“I never wore the coat,” May added.
Lisa looked between them.
“Where are the gifts?”
Rose inhaled slowly.
“We sold them.”
Lisa’s hand froze around her glass.
