PART 3

The first person to move was Aunt Denise.

She rose from her table with a napkin in one hand and walked toward Rose as if she had decided the most sensible thing in the world was to rescue a family dinner from burning in the oven.

“Would you like a little water, Mama?” she asked.

Grandma looked at the cake, then at Brandon standing alone in his wedding clothes.

“I would like everyone to sit down,” she said.