Duncan set his fork down with a sigh. “My son had a brilliant future, Stella. It’s truly painful to see what was left behind.”
The table fell silent, tension humming. I wanted to defend myself, to list every late night and double shift, but I didn’t. I thought of Audrey, of all the times I’d told her to take the high road.
I wanted to protect her from this table, from this family, from the kind of shame that sticks to you for years. I didn’t know she was already done carrying mine.
Suddenly, Audrey’s chair scraped back. She stood, eyes blazing. “No,” she said, quiet, but it cut through the room.
“My son had a brilliant future, Stella.”
Heads turned. Audrey met every gaze. “I have something to say, and you’re all going to listen. Especially you, Grandma and Grandpa.”
Gina narrowed her eyes. “Audrey, that’s enough, girl.”
My daughter shook her head. “No, it isn’t. You keep saying my mom cleans toilets, like it makes her small. But every late shift kept our lights on. Every hard day made sure I had what I needed. Mom has character.”
