Greg then got right in the man’s face. “You hear me? I have had enough of you people. Haunting her like vultures. You got your punches in. No wonder that boy wanted the hell away from you. The both of you are horrible people.”

The woman flinched, but Greg wasn’t done and he wasn’t letting up. He straightened, pulling his dignity back around him as he spoke to people it was clear he despised. “I wish to God you were flinching because you realize you drove your son away and you’ve tortured my daughter, whose only crime was to love him with all her heart. But you’re a self-centered bitch who’d rather tear apart my Tuesday because you were an utter failure at parenting. I’ve held my tongue for years. Dealing with your pretentious bullshit at the holidays because my child begged us to look past your personalities. I loved your son. He was a decent boy with a good heart. But you had no part in that. I will do more than shove you, Charlie. Go ahead, because I can already taste how good it’s going to feel when I break your nose. I’ve dreamed of it.”

“I see you around her or this gallery again I’ll call the cops,” Ezra said, meaning every word. “You had your sick fun. That’s over now. You need to find a new target. You understand me?”

Michael came to stand at Greg’s other side and the Heywoods finally took the hint, hurrying away and getting into a car half a block up the street, tearing away from the curb.

“So, Dad, this is Greg Easton, Tuesday’s father. Mr. Easton, this is my father, Michael Hurley.”

They shook hands.

“Can I do anything to help?” his father asked them both.

“The Heywoods are her former in-laws. Their son was a good kid. We liked him. But they’re horrible people. Pretentious. Unbearable in social situations. The mother would spend an entire holiday picking and pecking and tearing at her children and husband. We’d do our best to talk around it, but one Thanksgiving Di threw a drink in Tina’s face. She’d said something to Tuesday, Di won’t say what and neither will Tuesday so it’s bad enough they’re not telling me to keep me out of jail, if you know what I mean. Then Di punched her square in the nose and pulled her hair off.”

Horrified, all three men were silent a moment and then all started to laugh.

Ezra cleared his throat. “I would give money to have seen that.”

“Not only was it the best Thanksgiving I’ve had my entire life, it also was a way to never have to spend a holiday with them again. When Eric got sick and we had to be around them more, Di just looked right through Tina. Like she didn’t exist. They hated that she and Eric made up their own name. They hated Tuesday from the start. Hell, they didn’t even particularly like Eric. Those crocodile tears they just shed for a boy who shared my table more than theirs for a decade are bullshit. They’re the slap to his memory. They don’t care about him. Or his memory. It’s just a way to get worked up and take it out on my child and that will not happen. Thank you, Ezra, for protecting her.”

Ezra nodded. “Yes, sir. Of course. Let’s go in. They’re gone and she’s going to be upset. If we can calm her some before the official opening, that’d be good.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

HER MOTHER HUSTLED her into the back and Natalie joined them. Diana stood in front of Tuesday to get her attention. “You will not let them steal this night from you. Do you hear me, Tuesday? The Heywoods are awful people. They were before you came along and they are now. You have a wonderful night all planned out to celebrate this wonderful new stage in your life. And, darling, you look so amazing you can’t possibly waste it. This is one of those top-ten outfits over your lifetime sort of situations.”

“Totally,” Natalie agreed. “To all that. Boo to Tina. I’m just over here imagining what it must have looked like when you punched her and then yanked her hair.”

Leave it to Di and Nat to make her feel better even at a time like that. Tuesday hugged her mother. “Thanks, Mom.” She mouthed love you to Nat, who blew her a kiss.

“I didn’t know her ponytail was fake. I just wanted to pull her hair and make her hurt. They dragged me out before I could do any real harm.”

“After the thrown drink. And the punch.”

Her mother sniffed like it hadn’t been a big deal. “Those are minor details. She’s lucky I didn’t kick her face instead. The way she talks to people like she’s so much better. What? Tell me what is and isn’t classy to serve or eat or wear like I need advice from her raggedy ass.”

Tuesday laughed so hard she had to dot her eyes over and over with a tissue for fear of the tears making her mascara run.

“I’m not going to lie that it is a little thrill when I move too fast and she flinches. I am a little sorry not to be watching your dad mix it up out there. He’s sexy when he gets all het up.”

Tuesday thought of the way Ezra had shoved Mr. Heywood in her defense. How he’d put himself in between them and protected her.

“She said I disrespected Eric’s memory. Do you think that?”

Her mother shook her head. “Heck no. She’s crazy! You can’t listen to crazy people. Honey, what is it you think you need to do? Hide away for the rest of your life because your husband died young? Turn away a chance to love and be loved by a man like Ezra, who adores you? Will that bring Eric back? It won’t. It changes nothing when it comes to whether or not that boy is dead. Five years. I’ve been patient. Daddy’s been patient. Well, no because Daddy has no patience, but we’ve done our best to let you find your way back. This gallery is your next step. It’s your future and you don’t owe anyone an apology much less that bitter old bitch Tina Heywood.”