breathe.
Merrick began crying.
“I saw them arguing.”
“You were there?”
“I was nineteen.”
“Tell me.”
“Rosalie—”
“Tell me!”
Gideon reached for her but stopped before touching her.
Merrick wiped his face.
“Mother had the blue sewing box.
Father tried to take it.”
Rosalie remembered.
“She ran upstairs.
He followed.”
Silas said, “Enough.”
Merrick shouted, “You had twenty-nine years of enough!”
The room went silent.
Merrick looked at Rosalie.
“They fought near the loft stairs.”
Rosalie could hear her heartbeat.
“Did he push her?”
Merrick looked at Silas.
“No.”
Rosalie almost collapsed with relief.
Then Merrick continued.
“But he grabbed the box.”
Her relief vanished.
“Mother pulled back.
The railing broke.”
Rosalie closed her eyes.
“She fell.”
“Yes.”
“An accident?”
Merrick’s face crumpled.
“At first.”
Rosalie opened her eyes.
“At first?”
Merrick’s next words came broken.
“She was alive.”
Silas suddenly stood.
Gideon moved between him and Rosalie.
Merrick continued.
“
