I tried to hold onto that.
The next evening, I was on the couch scrolling through Facebook while Jake loaded the dishwasher. That’s when I saw Veronica’s post.
“Best auntie ever. Threw my babies the party of their dreams.”
There were twenty-three photos.
A massive bounce house.
Professional catering with a taco bar.
Designer decorations.
Balloon arches spelling out “Happy 5th Birthday” in rose gold.
Stacks of wrapped presents.
And in the middle of photo number seven—my mother, smiling wide, holding my niece. My father beside her, laughing like nothing in the world weighed on him.
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