But Jake was still stung by the accusation. “I didn’t let Emma drink!” he told them, looking severely around the table. “I would never.”
Emma, who’d been pushing food around her plate, winced.
“Do you know what that cost her?” Perry asked. “Do you have any idea?”
“Dad,” Emma mumbled. “Please stop.”
Jake pushed his chair back. Which only made Olivia hop up to help him. “What do you want, honey? I’ll get it for you.”
Jane did the same. “It’s okay—I’ll get it.”
“See?” Perry threw his hands up. “All the women, hopping up to help Jake. Poor, helpless Jake.”
Jake wobbled, grabbing the edge of the table for balance. “I am not helpless.”
“Enough.” Jane raised her voice over the rest of theirs. “These petty jealousies! How many years are you going to nurse them?”
Perry turned to her. “Mom, you can’t fix everything. Why must you force us together?”
Jane pounded the table and her bracelets rattled on her wrist. “Because we’re a fucking happy family! Now sit down and eat.”
Everyone stared at their plate, except for Patrick, who giggled nervously under his breath. “Grammy said…”
“Shush,” hissed Phoebe.
Edward waited as his wife drew in her breath, sat down, and returned her napkin to her lap. “What do you all think of the avocado dressing?”
They ate in silence, the deafening sound of utensils scraping plates. When it was clear the meal was over, Jane stood up. “I’m getting dessert.”
“I can help you,” Olivia offered.
As soon as she said it, both Perry and Jake stood, though Jake teetered on his crutches. Jane held up both hands. “Stop. Phoebe and Rob, you help clear. The rest of you stay where you are.”
Phoebe picked up plates, steering far around her husband as they passed. Jane returned with a steaming blueberry crumbleright out of the oven. “Fresh from the farm,” she said, dumping it on the table.
Edward grimaced. “Well. That looks lovely, honey.”
Everyone had a small serving, though no one except the kids ate much. Phoebe had taken one bite of dessert, hopeful they could limp through just five more minutes and then she could beat it the hell out of there, when Rob started talking. “I’m afraid Phoebe and I have some bad news.”
She swallowed hard. “Rob. Not now.”
He looked across the table at her, his eyes heavy with sadness. “You have to be honest, Phoebe. If not with yourself, at least with the rest of them.” He left it at that, and Phoebe felt all eyes upon her.
“Not in front of the kids,” she said softly, eyeing Patrick and Jed across the room. They’d strayed from the table and into the kitchen, where they sat on the tile floor pushing around a green-and-white Hess truck, a relic from her own childhood.
“I can take the kids outside if you want to talk,” Jake offered.
It was the smallest window, but Perry was determined to pry it open. “Because you know what’s best for everyone else’s kids.”
Olivia stood abruptly. “How about I take all the kids outside for a bit?”
No one argued, and Jake watched her go in exasperation. “Come on, Perry. Enough.”
“It’s not enough until you understand. What you did out there on the lake—it’s like some big secret. You don’t remember what happened? I call bullshit.”
“Be careful, Perry. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about my daughter!” Perry roared. “Whose life has been turned upside down since your accident. How the hell are you going to be a parent when you almost killed the three of you out there that day?”
