Chapter 49: Unwanted Calls
XENOIS
"Ollie," I said carefully, thinking of what to say that wouldn't put my parents in a bad light in his eyes.
"Grandma and Grandpa love our whole family. Sometimes adults have complicated feelings about things that happened between some people but that doesn't mean—"
"I don't want to go." His voice was suddenly stronger, more determined as he shook his head adamantly and gripped on tight to his cutleries as he added with puppy eyes.
"Please, Daddy. Can't we just stay home and watch cartoons instead?"
I looked at my son's pleading face and felt torn apart. Part of me wanted to give in, to spare him the discomfort of experiencing whatever hostility my parents might show toward his mother. But another part of me knew that canceling would only make things
