and greeted a few adults before making her way toward Leo.
My son sat proudly at the table with a paper crown resting crookedly on his head.
“Happy birthday, Grandma!” he said cheerfully.
Instead of offering him a colorful present, Eleanor produced a small brown cardboard box from her handbag.
She placed it directly in front of him.
There was no wrapping paper, no ribbon, and no birthday card.
Leo looked at the box curiously, waiting for his grandmother to explain what was inside.
Eleanor folded her hands and addressed
