Arlene's POV
The only voice filling the dining room belongs to Nicholson, enthusiastically describing each coin's discovery story from her treasured collection binder. I had quietly replaced the entire set after she lost her most prized piece during her hospital stay.
The coin could have slipped from her pocket, or perhaps someone took it. Either way, her heartbreak was unbearable to witness, so I simply eliminated the source of her pain and showered her with extra love and attention instead.
Bernard appears genuinely fascinated by her explanations, though his interest feels more like assessment than casual curiosity. Meanwhile, Warner assists Rockford with a card game assignment from school. Their test results remain delayed, and my patience grows thinner by the day.
Tonight's first family dinner with Pop-Pop went reasonably well. Still, my stomach churns from the underlying tension crackling between father and son.
