Daniel on the other.
And there was Emma.
Between them.
For eight years, she'd been finding compromises.
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Making room.
Splitting the difference.
Keeping everyone happy enough to stay.
I expected her to do it again.
She looked at Tom.
Then Daniel.
"Neither."
Tom blinked.
So did Daniel.
Emma turned toward Michael.
Her husband.
"Dance with me."
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Michael didn't hesitate.
He walked onto the floor.
Held out his hand.
Emma took it.
The music started.
And my daughter danced.
Nobody cheered.
I'm glad they didn't.
It wasn't a victory over Tom.
It wasn't a rejection of Daniel.
It wasn't revenge.
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For once, Emma had been given a choice and hadn't calculated which answer would hurt everyone least.
She'd simply answered.
I looked at Tom.
He was still there.
So was Kristen.
Daniel hadn't left either.
That mattered.
But for the first time, it wasn't Emma's job to make sure they stayed.
