Joey’s surprise was set. The decorations were ready. The guests would arrive soon.
I smiled, picturing Anna’s reaction—her wide-eyed joy, her laughter, the way she’d pull Joey into a hug, finally seeing how much he cared. Then I heard her voice. Sharp.
Cold. “You’re not coming to my party, Joey.”
I froze. There was silence for a moment.
Then, a soft, hesitant voice—Joey’s. “Why?”
I stepped forward quietly, staying just out of sight. My heart pounded in my chest.
Anna let out a short sigh, impatient. “Because you don’t fit in. You’ll just sit there looking uncomfortable, and I don’t want to deal with that.
Not in front of my family.”
My fingers tightened around the flowers. “I—I can talk to people,” Joey said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I was going to try.”
Anna laughed like he had said something ridiculous.
“Please, Joey. You barely talk to us. You think you’re suddenly going to be chatty and charming in front of a room full of people?
That’s what your dad was talking about, right? I heard him.”
“I’ll do my best,” Joey said quickly. “You always say that,” Anna replied.
“But it’s never enough. Look, just stay home. It’s not a big deal.”
Not a big deal.
I clenched my jaw, rage rising in my chest. Then she said the words that made my blood run cold. “I don’t even know why you want to be there.
I’m not your mom.”
Silence. Then, Lily snickered. “Yeah, Joey.
It’s not like you’re really family.”
Joey didn’t respond. I could picture his face falling, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes cast downward like he was trying to disappear. Something inside me snapped.
I stepped into the room. “Joey. Lily.
Go to your rooms.”
They all turned to look at me. Anna’s face paled. Joey hesitated, glancing at me, then at Anna.
He swallowed hard and walked away without a word. Lily followed, less eager but smart enough not to argue. Now it was just us.
Anna tried to force a smile. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”
I took a slow breath, gripping the flowers so tightly the stems nearly snapped.
“Joey planned the entire celebration.”
Her mouth opened slightly. “He invited everyone. He organized everything.
He wanted to show you how much he cares about you. This was his gift to you.”
She blinked. “I—I didn’t know.”
“No, you didn’t,” I said coldly.
“Because you never took the time to know him. You never listened. You never gave him a chance.”
Anna shook her head, flustered.
“I was just—”
“You were just making sure your night was perfect,” I interrupted. “And you threw away the best part of it.”
She crossed her arms, defensive. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“But you said it anyway,” I shot back.
“You made my son feel like an outsider in his own home. And I won’t let that happen again.”
She frowned. “So what?
You’re mad because I told the truth? Joey’s quiet. He’s awkward.
It’s not my fault he doesn’t fit in.”
I stared at her, my anger shifting into something sharper. Colder. “You don’t deserve him,” I said, my voice low.
Anna’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
For the first time, she looked nervous. “Look, let’s just calm down.
We can talk about this later. The party’s in an hour—”
“There is no party,” I said. “Not for you.
Not in this house.”
She scoffed. “You’re not serious.”
I met her gaze. “You need to leave.”
Anna’s jaw dropped.
“You don’t get to humiliate my son and stay in this house like nothing happened,” I said. “Pack your things. You’re done here.”
Her face twisted with anger.
“So you’re throwing me out over this? Over a stupid misunderstanding?”
“This wasn’t a misunderstanding,” I said firmly. “This was you showing me exactly who you are.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, searching for an argument.
But there was nothing left to say. “You’re making a huge mistake,” she muttered. I didn’t even look at her.
“No. I’m finally fixing one.”
She let out a frustrated huff and stormed off toward the bedroom. I stood there, the flowers still in my hand, listening to her slam drawers and shove things into a suitcase.
When she came back out, Lily stood at the top of the stairs, watching. Anna paused in the doorway, gripping the handle of her suitcase. “You’ll regret this,” she said bitterly.
I didn’t respond. With one last glare, she turned and walked out the door. The house was silent.
Then, a soft voice. “Dad?”
I turned. Joey stood at the bottom of the stairs, his face unreadable.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked quietly. My chest ached. I set the flowers down on the table and walked over to him.
“No, buddy,” I said gently. “You did everything right.”
His shoulders slumped. “But she—”
“She didn’t deserve your kindness,” I said.
“But that doesn’t mean it was wrong for you to give it.”
He swallowed hard, his lip quivering. I put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “I’m so proud of you, Joey.
You hear me?”
He gave a small nod. I pulled him into a tight hug, holding on just a little longer than usual. “You and me, kid,” I murmured.
“That’s all we need.”
He nodded against my chest, his small fingers clutching the back of my shirt. And for the first time in a long time, I knew we were going to be okay.
