Then she turned to me. “I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t fix anything.”
“No,” I said. “But I appreciate it.”
She nodded, eyes shining, and walked toward the hallway.
Marcus looked as if every direction had become a locked door.
From the sitting room, laughter suddenly rose. Olivia’s bright giggle. Ethan’s lower chuckle. A child’s laugh can be merciful, but that morning it felt like a bell ringing over a battlefield everyone was pretending not to see.
Patricia turned toward the sound. “May I meet them?”
“No,” I said.
Her face crumpled.
“Not like this,” I added. “Not while everyone is overwhelmed and secrets are still falling out of the walls.”
She nodded quickly, wiping her cheeks. “Of course. Of course.”
Marcus took one step toward me. “Kesha, I need to see them.”
“You just did.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I know what you mean.”
