At that exact moment, the front gate opened.
Jordan walked in confidently with one hand resting against Percy’s back.
She wore a designer dress that probably cost more than I spent on groceries in a month.
Every conversation nearby softened.
“There she is,” Jordan called with a grin. “The birthday boy’s mother.”
I inhaled slowly.
Clark’s hand rested lightly against my back, grounding me.
“Jordan,” I said calmly. “Percy.”
Percy acknowledged me with a polite nod while casually surveying the backyard.
Then Jordan noticed Clark.
He looked him over once.
Then again.
Suddenly he laughed.
Loudly.
Cruelly.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said, wiping imaginary tears away. “Him? With you?”
“Jordan, please.”
“No, seriously.” He pointed toward Clark. “A man like this. Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Come on.”
Heat spread across my face.
Percy hid her smile behind her wine glass.
I wished the ground would swallow me.
Clark remained perfectly calm.
Without responding to the insult, he picked up Ethan’s wrapped gift from the table and extended it toward Jordan.
“Funny,” he said quietly. “You spent years judging people by their looks. Your children judged you by something much harder to fake.”
He held out the package.
Jordan’s laughter stopped instantly.
He stared at it.
“Go ahead,” Clark said. “Open it.”
Percy leaned closer.
