The waiter had barely finished distributing menus when Serena lifted a finger.
“Three shrimp cocktails, two bottles of your best red, and extra bread.”
Henry lowered his menu.
“That sounds like a lot.”
“It’s your birthday,” Serena said.
Then she smiled at me.
“Besides, our walking credit card finally got that promotion.”
“I didn’t get a promotion,” I said.
Serena blinked.
“Really? Chris said things were going great.”
I turned toward him.
“Did you?”
Chris kept his eyes on the steak menu.
“She misunderstood.”
Several relatives laughed anyway.
“Are you going to correct the rest?” I asked.
“It’s harmless,” he murmured. “Leave it.”
Serena leaned toward her sons.
“Get whatever you want. Grandpa only turns sixty-five once.”
“Can I get the biggest steak?” one asked.
“Add lobster,” Serena said. “Tonight’s covered.”
I looked at Chris.
Without meeting my eyes, he ordered the ribeye.
“And for you?” the waiter asked me.
“House salad, baked potato, and water.”
Serena laughed.
“At a steakhouse?”
Chris shifted uncomfortably.
“Natalie…”
I stood.
“Excuse me. I’m going to the restroom.”
Instead, I walked directly to the waiter.
“Separate checks, please. We’ll cover Henry and Tarryn, who are seated across from us. No one else.”
He nodded.
“Understood, ma’am.”
I returned to the table with my heart racing.
I ate quietly while Serena ordered another bottle of wine and Chris continued avoiding my gaze.
I was no longer going to protect anyone from consequences they had created themselves.
After the plates were removed, Henry placed his napkin beside his plate.
“This is more than I needed,” he said. “But I’m glad everyone’s here.”
I reached into my purse.
“Chris, I brought something for you.”
He looked at the envelope.
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
He removed the printed airline tickets.
His expression changed immediately.
“They were.”
For one brief moment, he smiled.
