If the meeting had not canceled, he would have arrived at eight-thirty.
Dinner finished.
Table cleared.
Emma showered.
Lucas upstairs.
Nothing visible.
How many nights had that happened?
Michael turned.
“Have you told anyone?”
Emma looked confused.
“About dinner.”
She shook her head.
“Why?”
Diane’s voice came from the doorway.
“Because there is nothing to tell.”
Michael turned.
She had returned.
No longer angry.
That worried him more.
Her arms were folded.
Her face controlled again.
“Children are exaggerating because you're making discipline sound abusive.”
Michael stared.
“I did not use that word.”
“Your face is using it.”
He looked toward the kids.
“Go upstairs.”
Diane immediately said:
“No.”
Michael stared.
She continued:
“They stay.”
“Why?”
“Because if we're going to discuss me like I'm some monster, they can hear what actually happened.”
Michael’s voice dropped.
“No.”
“You don't get to decide that.”
“I am deciding children don't sit through a marital argument about their discipline.”
Diane laughed.
“Now suddenly you're worried about involving them?”
Michael stopped.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you just questioned Lucas against me.”
Michael stared.
“I asked him what happened.”
“You invited him to criticize his mother.”
Lucas shrank in his chair.
Michael saw.
“That’s enough.”
Diane pointed toward the boy.
“Look what you’re doing to him.”
Michael almost laughed.
No.
He walked back to the table.
He put one hand on Lucas’s shoulder.
“Go upstairs.”
Lucas stood immediately.
Emma did too.
Diane said:
“Emma stays.”
Michael looked at her.
“Why?”
“She is the reason we're discussing this.”
Emma’s eyes widened.
Michael felt anger become something almost clean.
“No.”
Diane stared.
Michael turned toward Emma.
“Go with Lucas.”
She hesitated.
Diane said:
“Emma.”
Michael held out his hand.
“Upstairs.”
Emma took it.
He walked both children to the staircase.
Lucas looked back.
Michael said:
“Stay with your sister.”
Lucas nodded.
They went up.
Michael waited until he heard Emma’s bedroom door.
Then returned to the dining room.
Diane stood exactly where he left her.
For several seconds they stared at each other.
Then Michael asked:
“How long?”
Diane looked exhausted.
“I don't know.”
“Do not do that.”
“What?”
“Act like the details are beneath you.”
“They aren't.”
“Then how long?”
She sat.
Michael remained standing.
“These rules.”
“Yes.”
“Since spring.”
It was September.
His chest tightened.