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Zay Jr. squirmed happily in my arms without a care in the world.

Heels clicked against the marble in the foyer before Mr. and Mrs. Wells entered the dining room.

I had only been around them a handful of times over the years, but every interaction left me feeling the same way. Something about them always made me uncomfortable.

Zay and I stood to greet them. Mrs. Wells walked toward us while Mr. Wells greeted everybody else. She looked elegant as usual, but I could never read much from her face.

She saw my son and immediately reached for him without even speaking to me first.

“Come here, sweetheart.”

I pulled him closer before I could think about it.

Her smile disappeared when she looked at Zay.

“Zacian, tell her to give me my grandson.”

“He doesn’t like being held by strangers.”

Mrs. Wells gave a small laugh. “Strangers?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m his grandmother, not a stranger.”

“You ain’t seen my lil man since he was born. You gotta earn that.”

Zay moved between us, and Mrs. Wells stared at him for a moment.

“Zacian, your tone is becoming very disrespectful.”

“Yeah, if you say so.”

He returned to his seat as if the conversation meant nothing to him.

Dinner started not long after that, and the first part was painfully polite. Glasses clinked while silverware moved against plates, and the staff kept coming through to pour wine and water.

The first course was some fancy European food that looked more like decoration than something anybody was supposed to eat. A shallow white bowl held bright green pea soup with cream and shaved truffle floating on top. I passed on mine, but Zay gave some to our son, who ate it like it was the best thing he ever tasted.

The second course was yellowtail crudo. Thin slices of raw fish were arranged in a circle with olive oil, lemon, and little pink peppercorns sprinkled over the plate.

I looked at Zay.

He turned his nose up and pushed the plate away.

I did the same.

Ares noticed and nudged him while laughing.

“Where the hot wings, bro? I’m not eating raw shit,” Zay told him.

“I’ll take y’all somewhere later to get some. Better food is coming out.”

The main course finally gave me something I wanted to eat. They brought out roasted lamb over creamy mashed potatoes with rosemary and garlic, along with roasted baby carrots and asparagus.

Ares ate as if this was a regular Tuesday for him.

Azaria barely touched her food.