I heard it.
I was looking at Gabriella.
Her hands were shaking in her lap.
And just like that, I finally felt my anger fade, after all these years. Unfortunately, it left something else behind that I had also never faced; I suddenly had to deal with my grief.
After the ceremony, everything blurred into names and camera shutters and sweaty hugs. I held all three girls for a long second and tried to keep my voice steady. Clarissa hovered at the edge of our little circle like she belonged there now.
I could have loaded the girls into the car and taken them home and let the day end there.
Lily touched my sleeve.
“Can we go somewhere quieter?”
I could have said no.
I could have loaded the girls into the car and taken them home and let the day end there.
But Gabriella was trembling so badly that I knew this was bigger than my pride.
