No one agreed with her.

Jenna’s face was tense, and Mark looked angry.

My father stared at the floor.

For one brief second, I waited for him to speak.

I waited for him to say that the remark had been inappropriate.

I waited for him to remind my mother that Lily was a baby.

I waited for someone else to do what I had spent years doing for myself.

Nothing happened.

My mother shrugged.

“Well, somebody has to say these things. You can’t expect me to pretend everything is perfect.”