Not shame.
Anger.
I turned toward Hugo.
“Do you agree with her?”
He looked at Carla, then me.
“Carla is saying this too harshly.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Silence.
“Hugo.”
He sighed.
“I think maybe this year it would be easier if everyone celebrated separately.”
“Where would I celebrate?”
“You could have dinner with a friend.”
“And if nobody is available?”
“You could stay home. Relax. Watch a Christmas movie. We can come by the next day.”
I stared at my only child.
“That’s what you think your mother should do while you sit here with your wife’s parents.”
“Mom, don’t make it sound like—”
“Like what?”
He stopped.
Carla continued.
“There’s also the gift issue.”
“What gift issue?”
“Gabriel doesn’t need more simple toys.”
“The construction set?”
“It broke.”
“He played with it for months.”
“My parents gave him a travel experience.”
