Helen began to explain, but Lisa only nodded slowly. “Accidents happen,” she said. She knelt beside Jake, brushing his hair back. “You okay, buddy?” He nodded, still sniffling. Lisa turned to her mother with a small, polite smile. “It’s fine, Mom. Don’t worry about it.” But the way she said it left Helen uneasy.
Later that night, after everyone had gone home, Helen sat in her quiet kitchen, staring at the clean counter where the vase used to stand. The sound of it breaking echoed in her mind. So did Lisa’s voice. Calm. Detached. It wasn’t anger that unsettled Helen; it was indifference.