“Call the nurse! Grandpa's illness is acting up again!” Sarah screamed, shattering the moment.
Fear and terror briefly flickered across her face before she concealed them behind a flawless façade of a smile.
“This happens a lot,” she explained, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead despite the cold temperature in the room. “Grandpa often mistakes me for someone else.”
Glancing at Leanne for validation, Sarah noticed that she was in a daze, frozen like a statue in her place.
“Mom!”
Leanne flinched, waking from her trance in an instant. She lifted her gaze, breaking free from her thoughts, and turned to the guests to offer an apology.
“My father has been struggling with his illness,” she said evenly. “He forgets things and becomes confused. Please, let’s pretend this never happened
