Rachel stood immediately, protective as a guard dog.
Through the window, I saw Brian on the porch.
He looked thinner. Unshaven. Holding an envelope.
Lily froze.
Karen’s face hardened.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and went to the door.
I opened it, but I did not invite him in.
That boundary was small.
It was also everything.
Brian looked past me toward the dining room.
His eyes landed on Lily.
Pain crossed his face.
“Hi, Lil.”
She did not answer.
He looked back at me.
“I’m not here to cause trouble.”
“What are you here for?”
He held out the envelope.
“I wrote something. My counselor said I shouldn’t ask for forgiveness yet. Just acknowledge what I did.”
I took the envelope.
His hand shook.
“I lied about Lily,” he said.
Behind me, I heard my granddaughter inhale sharply.
“I know,” I said.
His eyes filled. “I told myself it was because Melissa didn’t like drama. But really, I hated that Lily loved this house. I hated that she looked happy here when I felt like a failure every time I walked through the door.”
