“We just wanted to stop by,” Darlene added.
“Such a lovely morning for family.”
Nolan stood. Not quickly. Not angrily. Just… firmly.
“You’re not welcome here,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Darlene’s smile flickered.
“You heard me,” he said.
“You’re not happy near Ava until you apologize for what you’ve done. And you’re not invited to anything in the future unless you start treating my wife and daughter like they matter.”
“You’re joking,” she said.
“I’m not,” my husband said simply.
“You’d dismiss me?”
“I’m asking you to do better, Mom,” he said. “But until you can, yes, I’m selecting them.”
And now? Just silence.
No Sunday calls. No little digs.
