Chapter 2 - The Birthday Lunch
The lunch was scheduled for one o’clock on Saturday.
At eleven thirty, Elena received an urgent call from the contractor overseeing one of her company’s largest projects. A structural inspection had uncovered a problem that could delay construction for weeks.
Elena tried to resolve it by phone, but the contractor needed her at the site.
“I’ll take Mia to the restaurant,” Daniel offered. “You can meet us there.”
Elena looked toward the living room, where Mia was spinning in her denim skirt.
“Keep her with you.”
“I will.”
“Not with your mother.”
“I understand.”
“Daniel.”
He sighed.
“Elena, I understand.”
Mia ran over and hugged her mother.
“Grandma said I can pick a dessert.”
“You can pick one after lunch,” Elena said.
“She said I could have two.”
Daniel smiled.
“She’s the birthday grandmother.”
“It isn’t Patricia’s birthday.”
Mia giggled.
“Grandma says every family party is a little bit her birthday.”
Elena did not laugh.
Before they left, she slipped the emergency phone into Mia’s backpack.
It was a simple device designed for children. Mia knew how to call her parents and three trusted relatives. The phone also transmitted her location.
Elena had bought it after Patricia once took Mia to a shopping mall without telling anyone.
Daniel had called the purchase dramatic.
Elena called it necessary.
At the restaurant, Patricia greeted Mia with a hug that lasted too long.
“My beautiful girl,” she said loudly. “You came to sit with Grandma.”
Mia looked at Daniel.
“I want to sit with Daddy.”
Patricia’s smile tightened.
“Daddy will be talking to the adults.”
Daniel touched Mia’s shoulder.
“You can sit beside me.”
The table had been arranged so Patricia occupied the central seat. Shopping bags surrounded her chair because she and Claire had spent the morning buying clothes.
When Mia sat beside Daniel, Patricia immediately handed him one of the bags.
“Put this in your car before someone spills something.”
Daniel left the table.
Patricia moved into his chair.
By the time he returned, every other seat was occupied.
Mia was sitting beside her grandmother.
Daniel noticed but did not challenge it.
That was the first promise he broke.
Lunch began peacefully.
Patricia ordered for the table without asking anyone what they wanted. She criticized Claire’s haircut, questioned Daniel’s recent promotion, and complained that Elena was late.
Mia ate quietly.
When the waiter brought sparkling water, Mia accidentally knocked her spoon onto the floor.
Patricia sighed.
“You are old enough to behave properly in public.”
“It was an accident,” Mia said.
“Accidents are what careless people call their choices.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“That’s enough.”
Patricia smiled.
“I am teaching her manners.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He checked a message from work.
Patricia reached across the table.
“Give me that. We agreed this would be a family lunch.”
Daniel allowed her to put his phone inside her handbag.
That was the second promise he broke.
At two fifteen, Elena called him.
The phone rang inside Patricia’s handbag.
Patricia ignored it.
At two twenty, Elena called again.
Patricia turned the handbag so the sound became muffled against her chair.
Claire noticed.
“Shouldn’t Daniel answer?”
“He’s spending time with his family,” Patricia said.
Daniel was speaking with an uncle at the far end of the table.
Mia began to grow restless.
“When is Mommy coming?”
“When she finishes choosing work over us,” Patricia replied.
Daniel did not hear.
Mia frowned.
“Mommy said she had to fix a building.”
“Your mother always has an excuse.”
Mia looked toward her father.
“I want Daddy.”
Patricia gripped her wrist beneath the table.
“Stop demanding attention.”
Mia pulled away.
“You’re hurting me.”
Claire saw the movement.
“Mom, let her go.”
Patricia released Mia immediately.
“I barely touched her.”
Mia stood.
“I want to call Mommy.”
Patricia looked around the table. Several relatives had heard.
Her cheeks flushed.
“You are embarrassing me.”
“I want Mommy.”
Patricia rose and took Mia’s hand.
“Come with me.”
“Where are you going?” Claire asked.
“To help her calm down.”
Daniel glanced over.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfectly,” Patricia said. “We are visiting the restroom.”
Daniel returned to his conversation.
That was the third promise he broke.
Patricia led Mia past the restrooms.
She led her through the shopping center corridor.
Then she entered the elevator and pressed the button for the parking garage.
Mia became nervous.
“This isn’t the bathroom.”
“You need quiet.”
The elevator doors opened on the fourth parking level.
Warm air and the smell of concrete filled the space.
Patricia walked Mia toward an isolated section near a stairwell.
“Wait here until you are ready to behave.”
Mia stared at her.
“For how long?”
“Until I come back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You are always sorry after you ruin things.”
Patricia turned away.
Mia grabbed the edge of her blouse.
“Don’t leave.”
Patricia pulled free.
“Then learn not to embarrass adults.”
She walked toward the elevator.
Mia followed.
Patricia stepped inside and blocked the child with one arm.
“No.”
The doors closed.
Mia stood alone beneath the fluorescent lights.
At first, she believed Patricia would return immediately.
Then five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Mia opened her backpack and took out the emergency phone.
She called Patricia.
May you like
The call rang inside Patricia’s handbag at the restaurant.
Patricia looked at the screen and pressed decline.
