“Then why wait?”

“Because I want to know whether she’ll stop when she’s given the chance.”

She went to her mother and spoke briefly, close enough that the conversation did not belong to every guest.

I could not hear every word.

I saw Elena shake her head.

I saw Chloe point gently toward the room, indicating the occasion around them.

Then she returned.

“I asked her not to make claims about Dad or our childhood.