I walked toward Gabriel.
He reached me first.
I hugged him.
“I love you.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Did I do something?”
“Never.”
Carla stood several feet away.
“Gabriel, please.”
I kissed his head and let him go.
Hugo followed me to the door.
“Mom, don’t leave like this.”
“How would you prefer I leave?”
“I don’t want you thinking we don’t love you.”
“Then you should not treat me as though I embarrass you.”
“Carla went too far.”
“You listened to every word.”
He looked down.
“That matters more than what she said.”
“I didn’t know how to stop it.”
“You could have used the word no.”
I opened the door.
He caught it lightly.
“Where are you going to be Christmas Eve?”
“Not alone.”
“With who?”
“My family.”
Then I left.
Back at my apartment, I opened the fireproof box in my closet.
