Before I could answer, Mark returned from the backyard carrying Noah, who was dressed as a tiny dragon.
“Mom wants us by the fireplace.”
He looked toward the living room.
“She said there’s a special family picture planned.”
I set down my drink.
“Then let’s go.”
Sharon emerged holding a silver crown.
The living room had been transformed since morning. A black curtain covered the window, and orange lights framed the fireplace. A tripod stood beside an enormous display of family photographs.
Sharon had arranged the frames in neat rows. Birthdays, graduations, holidays. Every picture seemed selected with care.
Denise and a few other guests lingered near the doorway.
Sharon emerged holding a silver crown.
“I wanted something lovely for the children.”
“Mom can take the picture, sweetheart.”
She placed the crown on Ava’s head, then draped a matching black cape over Mark’s shoulders. She settled a smaller crown on Noah’s head and handed Ava a plastic sword.
Ava looked around.
“What does Mom get?”
Sharon adjusted Mark’s collar.
“Mom can take the picture, sweetheart.”
“Mom, Claire’s supposed to be in the picture.”
I thought I had misheard her.
“Mom, Claire’s supposed to be in the picture,” Mark said.
“Julia’s here,” I said. “She can photograph us.”
“Oh, Julia is busy enjoying herself.”
“I’m right here,” Julia said from the doorway.
Sharon’s smile tightened.
Ava wandered toward the photographs while Sharon fussed with Mark’s cape.
“Let’s not make this complicated.”
Ava wandered toward the photographs while Sharon fussed with Mark’s cape. Then she stopped.
“Mom, why aren’t you in that one?”
I followed her finger.
The center frame showed Mark standing at the lake with Noah in his arms and Ava slightly in front of him. Sharon stood to his right, smiling proudly.
I’d been standing to Mark’s left, my arm around his waist.
I knew the picture.
I’d been standing to Mark’s left, my arm around his waist.
Now only my hand was visible against his shirt. The rest of me was gone.
I stepped closer.
“Julia, did you crop this?”
“No,” she said.
“Where am I?”
Sharon moved toward us.
“It’s a lovely photograph.”
“Where am I?”
“Don’t start.”
I lifted the frame from the display.
For a second, nobody spoke.
“Claire, don’t turn this into another scene.”
Then Sharon looked straight at me.
“Claire, don’t turn this into another scene.”
“I want an answer.”
I turned the frame toward the room.
“Why did you remove me from our family photograph?”
Sharon folded her arms.
“You could have printed the original smaller.”
“The frame was too small.”
“You could have printed the original smaller,” Julia said. “I sent you the whole photograph.”
Sharon shot her a furious look.
“This is none of your business.”
Mark looked at his mother.
“Mom, tell me you didn’t do this on purpose.”
“You mean I looked fat?”
Sharon exhaled sharply.
“Honestly, you’re all acting ridiculous. Claire wasn’t looking her best that day. I wanted a nice family picture.”
I asked, “You mean I looked fat?”
Sharon looked toward the guests.
“You know you’ve put on weight. I thought you might appreciate not having an unflattering photograph on display.”
