Michael looked toward Lucas.
Lucas’s eyes met his for half a second.
Then dropped.
Michael noticed.
“Lucas.”
Diane turned sharply.
“No.”
Michael looked at her.
“What?”
“Do not put him in the middle.”
“I asked his name.”
“You were about to interrogate him.”
Michael stared.
Emma pulled slightly at his shirt.
“Daddy.”
He looked down.
“Can I eat?”
Everything stopped.
Michael’s anger changed shape.
He crouched again.
“Yes.”
Emma looked toward Diane.
Michael saw.
His chest tightened.
“Look at me.”
Emma did.
“Yes.”
He took her hand.
“You are going to sit down and eat.”
Diane stepped forward.
“Michael.”
He looked up.
“No.”
The word was quiet.
She froze.
Michael led Emma to her chair.
He pulled it out.
She sat.
Then hesitated.
“Is it okay?”
Michael swallowed.
“Yes.”
He placed her plate in front of her.
Diane said:
“You are teaching her that my rules do not matter.”
Michael turned.
“No.”
He pointed toward the food.
“I am teaching my daughter that dinner is not conditional on humiliation.”
Diane’s face went pale.
“Humiliation?”
“Yes.”
“You're being dramatic.”
Lucas flinched.
Michael saw.
He looked toward his stepson.
“Lucas.”
The boy stared.
“Did Emma stand through dinner?”
Lucas looked toward his mother.
Diane snapped:
“Do not answer that.”
Michael’s eyes sharpened.
“Why?”
“Because this is between us.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“It stopped being between us when both children were part of it.”
Lucas whispered:
“Yes.”
Diane turned.
“Lucas.”
He looked terrified.
Michael immediately softened.
“You're not in trouble.”
Lucas nodded.
Michael asked:
“How long?”
Lucas glanced at the clock.
“I don't know.”
Diane laughed.
“See?”
Lucas looked again.
“Like twenty minutes.”
Emma corrected quietly:
“Eighteen.”
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed toward the clock.
Michael’s expression changed.
His daughter had counted.
That hurt more than he expected.
“Eighteen minutes?”
Emma nodded.
Diane exhaled.
“Oh my God.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“She was not being tortured.”
Michael stared.
“Do not use an extreme word to make what you did sound reasonable by comparison.”
Diane’s hand dropped.
He continued:
“I didn't say torture.”