The conversation did not change Melissa’s eventual decision.
It did give her a brief moment in which her decision felt like hers again.
Chapter 9: Family Court at Sunday Dinner
Melissa’s mother Joanne invited them to Sunday dinner and served pot roast as though food could protect the evening from argument.
Her younger sister Clara arrived with a bottle of sparkling cider and an opinion she had already decided to share.
“Melissa is doing something generous,” Clara announced before the plates had been cleared.
Grant put down his fork.
“It is her decision, but it is not a simple favor.”
“You sound threatened by a successful man,” Clara said.
“I sound worried about my wife’s health.”
Joanne gestured toward the children playing in the living room.
“Keep your voices down.”
Melissa looked at her mother with gratitude, but Joanne continued.
“I also don’t understand why Charles is handling this personally instead of through the clinic.”
Clara rolled her eyes.
“Because wealthy people hire experts to manage complicated things.”
“Then we should see those experts,” Grant said.
“Why should you get to see anything?” Clara demanded.
“Because Melissa asked me to come to her appointments, and I want to support her with accurate information.”
Melissa whispered that she wished he would stop questioning every detail.
Grant leaned back, surprised at how quickly an honest concern could be recast as disloyalty.
Joanne asked whether the Whitmores had offered to cover childcare during medical appointments.
Melissa said the money would cover it.
“That is not the same as a plan,” Joanne replied.
Clara accused her mother of siding with Grant.
Soon everyone was debating who loved Melissa enough to respect her.
Melissa began crying without making a sound.
Grant noticed before the others did and asked whether they could stop.
Clara insisted that the argument mattered because Melissa was being controlled at home.
“No one here is voting on her body,” Grant said.
“We are discussing whether people who claim to care about her are willing to hear difficult questions.”
Melissa took the children outside for a walk around the block.
Joanne followed with their coats.
Clara stayed behind and accused Grant of making the house miserable.
He was too exhausted to defend himself again.
On the drive home, Noah asked whether Mommy was sick.
Melissa answered that she was not.
Lily asked if the grown-ups were fighting because of a new baby.
Grant said grown-ups sometimes disagreed and that none of the children had caused it.
