Daniel’s uncle stood next.
Then our longtime neighbors.
Then two friends of the family.
Even Vanessa’s own aunt, Patricia, quietly pushed back her chair.
One by one, nineteen guests stood.
Within moments, almost everyone at the table had joined us.
Vanessa stared in disbelief.
“What are you all doing?”
Patricia looked at her niece.
“Leaving a dinner where a thoughtful gift has been treated so disrespectfully.”
Daniel’s face reddened.
“Dad, this is embarrassing!”
I turned toward him.
“Your mother has been embarrassed in front of everyone, Daniel. There’s a difference.”
Eleanor held my hand tightly as we walked toward the entrance.
Vanessa remained near the dining table.
“Let them go!” she called. “They’re just upset because we’ve become successful!”
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned back toward my son.
“Daniel, there’s something about this beautiful house you seem to have forgotten.”
He frowned.
“What?”
