“Ethan, let’s thank everyone for coming. Then the four of us can talk privately.”
He stared at me.
Vanessa looked toward David.
“Did you know about this?”
David answered calmly.
“I knew I was invited. I didn’t know you’d be surprised to see your husband at a family dinner.”
Her cheeks flushed.
Then he added, “And I thought you had an appointment tonight.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“What appointment?”
Vanessa said nothing.
I picked up the empty cake plates.
“Perhaps we should finish saying good night to our guests.”
Twenty minutes later, the house was quiet downstairs.
Noah was upstairs with his cousin, who was staying overnight as we’d arranged before the party. I’d checked on them, and they were happily absorbed in their game with the door closed.
I asked the four adults to speak in the little study at the other end of the house.
David agreed.
Ethan followed us, looking increasingly angry.
Vanessa came last.
I closed the door.
For several seconds, we stood around the small desk where Ethan kept his paperwork.
Then he turned toward me.
“You arranged this behind my back.”
I stared at him.
“I invited David to your birthday dinner.”
“You knew that would cause problems.”
“No. When I invited him, I didn’t know it would cause problems. I learned that when he called.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“This is unbelievable.”
David looked at her.
