I felt no satisfaction.

Eleanor was an older woman who had chosen loyalty to her adult son over honesty toward her grandson.

She would have to live with that choice.

I did not need to make the lesson harsher.

That night a message arrived from Julian through the approved parenting app.

He asked whether Noah still liked the bedtime song about the moon.

I stared at the screen for a long time before replying.

Yes, he does.