Chapter 12 - Emma apologizes
Emma’s first apology:
“I’m sorry your cake got ruined.”
Noah stared.
“My cake didn’t ruin itself.”
Good.
Ashley looked embarrassed.
Second attempt:
“I’m sorry I smashed the doll into your cake.”
Better.
“Why?”
Emma fidgeted.
“I thought it would be funny.”
“It wasn’t.”
“I know.”
“Why me?”
Emma looked at her mother.
Ashley stayed silent.
Good.
Emma answered:
“Because Grandpa says you get upset easy.”
Noah’s eyes changed.
“He says that?”
Ashley closed her eyes.
I wanted to intervene.
Didn’t.
Emma continued:
“And Mom said you get everything special.”
Ashley looked at me sharply.
There.
“What did Mom mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Emma.”
“She said Aunt Laura always makes Noah’s birthdays huge but says dance is expensive.”
Ashley interrupted.
“I did not say that to her like—”
I raised one hand.
Let the child finish.
Emma said:
“I thought you were spoiled.”
Noah stared.
Then:
“My mom paid for your dance.”
Silence.
Seven-year-old accounting.
Emma looked at me.
“Is that true?”
I said:
“Some of it.”
Her face crumpled.
Ashley looked ashamed.
The comparison had leaked from adults.
Again.
Money transformed into child rank.
I hated all of us.
Emma whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Noah did not forgive immediately.
He said:
“Okay.”
May you like
Then went to play.
Enough.
