“Are you sure?” I whisper. “You can say no, you know. I won’t be mad. This is your life, too.”
Eli’s gaze drops to the grass, tormenting a few stalks between his fingers. Like I do with my sleeves whenever I’m nervous.“You’re not happy, Mommy.”
“No, you’re not. All you do is work and take care of me.” His little fists clench in the grass, ripping out the stalks. Suddenly, helooks close to tears. “You have to see Mr. Lee because of me and work late because of me and put up with Vanessa—”
His words break my heart. His face breaks my heart—into a thousand tiny little pieces. He’s red, teary, and so nervous hecould burst.
I shouldn’t have asked. I shouldn’t have put this on him.
“But when Yulian’s there, you’re happy.” He looks at me again. “You get all pretty and go
