“What is it, Nathan?” she answers, and there’s none of the warmth in her voice that used to comfort me for years.

“Is it true…?” I pause, eyes shut, unable to say more.

“Is what true?”

“Was Giselle planning a surprise birthday party for me?”

“Why do you want to know? You haven’t shown the slightest interest in her since the day you kicked her out,” she says coldly.

“Just answer the question,” I plead, my throat dry.

“Yes,” she says after a moment. “We were ...