"You made me feel guilty for caring."
"You knew he might not. That's why you needed me to agree. If you decided alone, you'd have to admit that you chose him over me."
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Timothy stared at me.
Neither of us spoke.
Then his shoulders dropped.
"My parents expect us at dinner."
"I know."
"That's why you needed me to agree."
"Are you coming?"
"Yes."
***
I went because I loved Donna and Craig, and I refused to let Jake claim that I was punishing them.
Donna hugged me. Craig pulled out my chair. Jake did not look up, and the frame was gone.
After several strained minutes, Donna set down her fork.
"Where's the estimate, Jake?"
I went because I loved Donna and Craig.
"Not tonight, Mom. I need a night away from that stupid car. I don't want to talk about it."
"You said the damage wasn't serious," she replied. "So, show us."
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Craig cleared his throat. "We can discuss it later. Let's eat."
Jake relaxed.
There it was. The old routine. Delay the problem until someone else paid for it.
I placed my napkin beside my plate.
"We can discuss it later."
"Happy anniversary," I told Donna and Craig. "I mean that. You two deserve so much joy."
Donna frowned. "You're leaving, honey?"
"Yes."
Jake laughed under his breath.
I faced him. "You damaged my car, refused to pay, and expected everyone here to make me feel guilty for mentioning it. I'm not doing that part anymore. It's disrespectful, and frankly...it hurts."
"You're leaving, honey?"
Then I walked out.
Timothy followed me.
"Elle, wait."
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I turned near the driveway.
He stopped a few feet away. "When I was 19, Jake borrowed my first car. He scraped the passenger side against a concrete post."
"What happened?"
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