Daniel smiled faintly and lifted his mask.
A few guests turned toward us.
My face burned. I felt the familiar urge to shrink, apologize, and make everyone comfortable.
Daniel squeezed my hand.
“That’s an interesting way to greet the mother of your children.”
Jason frowned.
“Who are you?”
“No… No, this can’t be happening! Not you!”
Daniel smiled faintly and lifted his mask.
“Well, hello, Jason.”
Jason’s eyes darted from Daniel to Christy, then back to me. His laughter died, and he stumbled backward, nearly knocking into the punch table.
Christy’s face went white. Her plastic cup slipped from her hand.
“No… No, this can’t be happening! Not you!”
Christy grabbed Jason’s sleeve.
I couldn’t help smiling. For once, Jason was speechless.
Then I looked at Daniel.
Why did they both recognize him?
Christy grabbed Jason’s sleeve.
“You need to leave.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What are you doing with Sarah?”
“I didn’t know you’d be here, Christy.”
Jason shook his head, still staring at him.
“What are you doing with Sarah?”
“I came with her.”
Daniel’s gaze shifted toward the children playing in the next room.
“Oliver’s here tonight, isn’t he?”
Before I could ask what was happening, a boy dressed as an astronaut came racing around the corner.
Her eyes flashed.
“Don’t bring him into this.”
Before I could ask what was happening, a boy dressed as an astronaut came racing around the corner.
“Dad!”
Oliver threw himself at Daniel so hard they nearly fell over.
Daniel caught him.
“You came! Mom said you were working!”
“Hey, buddy.”
“You came! Mom said you were working!”
Christy moved toward them.
“Oliver, go play with your friends.”
“But Dad’s here!”
“I can see that.”
My smile quickly vanished.
Daniel crouched. “Great costume, buddy. Go play. We’ll talk soon.”
Oliver ran toward a vampire-costumed classmate. His friend’s mother stood beside the dessert table.
My smile quickly vanished.
Oliver’s mother and, coincidentally, Daniel’s ex-wife.
Christy.
I’d never expected Daniel to be her ex, since Daniel hadn’t mentioned her new relationship.
“I should’ve warned you, but Jason started insulting you.”
Daniel leaned toward me.
“I recognized Christy when she approached,” he whispered. “I should’ve warned you, but Jason started insulting you. I wasn’t hiding behind a mask.”
“You didn’t know she was with Jason?”
“Not until I saw them together. She and Oliver still live near his school. I’d never been here.”
He seemed as shocked as I was.
“She told me you walked out on them.”
Jason stared. “Christy showed me photos of you with Oliver.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She told me you walked out on them.”
“I didn’t abandon my son.”
Christy stepped forward.
“Don’t start telling lies in front of my friends.”
We walked toward the children, leaving Jason and Christy beside the punch bowl.
Daniel glanced toward Oliver. “I’m not discussing this while he can hear.”
“Enough,” Christy snapped.
“This isn’t the place,” Daniel agreed. He turned to me. “I’m sorry, Sarah.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
We walked toward the children, leaving Jason and Christy beside the punch bowl.
The party continued, although the mood had changed.
“Remember my science project?”
I helped Ava with a game while Ben tried to convince another child that his pirate sword was enchanted. Across the room, Oliver kept finding reasons to approach Daniel.
