The warning he had heard since childhood.
Be careful.
Not because danger existed.
Because Diane’s patience had limits.
He stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him.
“Did you intercept Kate’s email?”
Diane’s expression gave him the answer.
Luke felt something inside him fall apart.
“You did.”
“She was attacking me.”
“She was talking to me.”
“She was unstable.”
“You don’t get to decide who can communicate with me.”
“I was protecting this family.”
Luke shook his head.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because someone has to.”
“From what?”
Diane looked at the house.
“From people who don’t understand what being a Bennett means.”
Luke followed her gaze.
For the first time, he understood that she meant Claire.
“She is my wife.”
“I know exactly who she is.”
“No. Say it.”
Diane folded her arms.
“You want honesty?”
“Yes.”
“Claire has never respected this family.”
Luke stared.
“She questions everything.”
“She has opinions.”
“She challenged me over the wedding.”
“Our wedding.”
“She refused to use the venue your father and I used.”
“Because we didn’t want it.”
“She changed Ellie’s name.”
Luke blinked.
“What?”
“I told you Elizabeth Rose was appropriate.”
“We never named her Elizabeth.”
“Exactly.”
Luke almost laughed.
Then he realized she was serious.
Diane continued.
“She refuses traditions. She limits holidays. She decides when I can see my granddaughter.”
“You mean parenting.”
“She controls you.”
Luke looked at his mother for a long time.
Then said, “Kate was right.”
Diane’s eyes narrowed.
“About what?”
“You don’t want a family.”
She stiffened.
“You want an audience.”
“Get out of my way.”
“You want everyone close enough to obey you.”
“That is absurd.”
“And anyone who doesn’t gets rewritten.”
Diane stepped toward him.
“I have spent my entire life holding this family together.”
“No.”
Luke’s voice remained calm.
“You held it still.”
For once Diane had no immediate response.
He opened the front gate.
“You need to go.”
She held up the shopping bag.
“At least give Ellie her present.”