Eleanor slowly reached for the tablecloth.
“That’s all right. I’ll take it home.”
But Vanessa suddenly raised her voice.
“Don’t touch the table!”
The entire room went silent.
Vanessa stood, pointing toward the doorway.
“Honestly, Eleanor, you’ve embarrassed me enough. If you can’t understand how things work in this house, you should leave.”
My wife froze.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
That was the moment I realized I’d been patient for too long.
I stood.
Pushed back my chair.
And gently reached for Eleanor’s hand.
“You don’t need to apologize,” I told her.
Then I looked around the table.
“Anyone who respects my wife, come with us.”
Nobody moved at first.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Robert, don’t be ridiculous.”
But then my sister Margaret rose from her chair.
“I think I’ll be leaving too,” she said.
