*Kieran*

“Oh, my. That is a bright shade of pink.” My mother blinks her eyes a few times before sipping her wine again. She’s commented on Nessa’s dress at least five times since dinner started only a few moments ago. Every time she does, Nessa giggles and squeezes my hand beneath the table, as if it’s a compliment.

It’s not one. My mother doesn’t give a lot of compliments, but when she does, one can tell she is pleased. At the moment, she looks as if she’d rather ...