“You’re uninviting me from your parents’ anniversary because you don’t like how I look?”
“I don’t want to spend the day pretending people aren’t staring.”
“Who is staring?”
He didn’t answer.
“I’ll see you there,” I said.
At the water park, Daniel’s parents greeted me warmly.
His mother, Celeste, immediately picked up Piper.
“Give me my granddaughter.”
His father, Kenneth, kissed my cheek.
“I’m glad you’re here, sweetheart.”
Those words meant more to me than he knew.
Later, a photographer hired for the anniversary celebration began taking family pictures.
I loved the idea.
Daniel didn’t.
When I asked him to take a photograph of me with the twins, he brushed me off.
“Later.”
“Why?”
“You’ll just complain about how you look.”
I stared at him.
“I just want one picture with my daughters.”
He walked away.
An hour later, we were sitting at the café.
Paige was eating strawberries.
Piper had stolen my sunglasses.
I was laughing when the photographer took a picture.
Then Daniel approached and dropped a towel beside me.
“Cover yourself.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“I’m eating.”
He glanced toward Jane.
“Look at her. She actually looks good in a swimsuit.”
Jane’s face immediately changed.
Elliot stood up.
“Daniel, what the hell?”
