“Let’s not start this today,” she said.

“I wasn’t planning to,” I said.

“This is Samantha’s special day,” she reminded me, as though I were the one who needed reminding, as though I had not spent the last six months and the last fifteen years making sure this day would happen at all.

“I’m well aware of that,” I said.

“That is the only reason I’m here,” she said, and now the sharpness came out from under the smile.

“You always were so good at making yourself look noble, Thomas.