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“I will not apologize for honesty.”

Hudson lowered his voice. “You’re being asked to apologize for cruelty.”

“I refuse.”

Grandma Ruth released Patty and faced Karen. “Then you will not attend family dinners.”

Karen blinked. “What?”

“You will not attend the monthly birthday parties either,” Grandma added.

“You cannot exclude me. I’m the one who organizes them. And, besides, it’s family property.”

Hilary stepped forward. “I approve the decision.”

Karen looked from one face to another. Nobody defended her.

Her shock turned to fury. “You are choosing her? A fucking human!” She pointed toward me.

Grandma shook her head. “We’re choosing Patty.”

That ended it.

Karen ripped the blanket from her shoulders and thrust it at the nearest person, who happened to be a confused council responder.

“I hope you all enjoy your moral superiority.”

Nobody answered. She turned toward her house. After several steps, she spun back. “And don’t expect me to bring my world-famous potato salad again.”

The threat hung over the lawn. I looked toward Hudson. He stared after her with complete seriousness. “Oh, no,” he said. “What a tragedy.”

Karen heard him. She made an outraged sound and stormed into her house. The door slammed hard enough to rattle the windows that had survived the smoke bomb.

Silence followed.

“I wasn’t the only one who thought that potato salad was gross, right?” Jason piped up.

Byron shook his head. “It was the raisins.”

Trevor gagged. “Always the raisins.”

Grandpa Alfonse lifted one hand from beneath his blanket. “She put cinnamon in it once.”

A collective shudder moved through the group.

Grandma Ruth narrowed her eyes at Karen’s house. “World-famous for what?”

That broke everyone. Laughter rolled across the yard, shaky at first, then stronger. Patty laughed through her tears. Hudson bent forward with one hand over his ribs, immediately regretted it, and straightened with a pained grimace.

I stepped closer. “Careful.”

“I’m fine.”

Around us, the family moved closer to Patty. Not demanding that she forgive them immediately. Only standing with her. The missing stair had finally been named. Repair would take time.

Hudson’s hand brushed mine. He didn’t take it at first. He left the choice open.

I turned my palm upward. His fingers slid between mine.