Eleanor''s expression remained calm. Just then, her phone rang. It was Ryan. She turned to the old woman. "Grandma, I need to take this call."


    She answered and walked a short distance away.


    Magdalen red at him, vexed. "You never should have hidden it from her. You kept our entire family in the dark and let Vanessa walk all over Ellie."


    After saying this, she expected some kind of response from her grandson, but he fell silent again, his gaze heavy as he watched Eleanor on the phone.


    Furious, she pped him on the back. "When are you going to change this habit of bottling everything up? What did Ellie ever see in you?"


    With that, she gave up on him and headed back toward the living room. After a few steps, she nced back at the young couple and sighed. Magdalen knew perfectly well that her grandson''s heart was still with Eleanor. She just wondered if she would live to see the day they found their way back to each other.


    When Eleanor hung up, she saw that Magdalen had left, butn was still standing there, watching her with aplicated expression.


    She walked back down the path, and as she passed him, she said casually, "I''m heading inside."


    "Eleanor,"n said suddenly.


    She turned back, meeting his eyes, assuming he had something to say.


    "Mansfield is a man you can count on,"n''s voice was low and steady. "I wish you both happiness."


    Eleanor frowned. Although she and


    elne


    Mansfield were just friends, she


    didn''t feel the need to exin


    anything to him. It was her


    life. She simply nodded. "Thank you."


    Just then, Eleanor heard her daughter calling for her. Without another word, she hurried toward the living room.


    ????


    He pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. The tip red red in the twilight, then dimmed, over and over. He was supposed to be rxing with his family, but at that moment, his eyes were filled with exhaustion. He took two deep drags and once the difort in his chest subsided, he stubbed the cigarette out. Straightening up, he walked toward the living room.


    He couldn''t go in smelling strongly of smoke; he didn''t want his daughter breathing it


    in when she got close.


    Dinner was already on the table, dish


    after dish crowding the space until


    there was barely any room left Magdalen waved everyone over, making sure the chair next


    Eleanor stayed empty for Jan.


    "Dad, hurry up, we''re starting without you!" Evelyn called, then jabbed a finger at the tter. "Mom, I want that huge drumstick."


    Eleanorughed at the way her daughter zeroed in on the food and reached over to snag it for her. Evelyn grabbed it with both hands and bit in, blissfully happy.


    "Ellie, have some more," Magdalen said. "You''ve gotten too thintely."