“You’d have talked to her, and she’d have found out about the credit card.

I had to keep you away from her.”

The silence after that was absolute — the sound of a family coming apart.

Guests quietly set down their drinks and slipped out the front door, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

Sela burst into tears and sank back into her chair.

I felt no triumph, standing in that ruined party, and I want to be honest about what I did feel, because it surprised me.