, the scent of lavender and old books. It was my old bedroom at the Duncan est

tood at the foot of the bed, his face etched with a grief so profou

thick with sorrow. "I am so,

e fight had gone out of me, leav

, my voice flat. "After t

es filling with tears. "Of course, my dear. He i

er touch was warm, but I felt nothing. I repeate

lly. Please, j

streaming down her face. "Ok

ng Andrew. It was about escaping the name, the family

st open. It was Andrew. He stormed in, his fac

ing a finger at me. "What lies have you bee

I had once loved, and felt a wave of pure, undilut

h such adoration. "Daddy is the best," he used to say. I remembered Jayd

angled with the ghosts of my children's

med to infuria

ing me by the shoulders and shaking me. "You th

pinning my wrists. His face was inches from

his pathetic act," he h

me. A primal, instinctual rage surged thr

ng his bleeding lip. He stared at me as if I were

insane,"

It was cold, dead, and s

drew. Caleb and J

dripping from his lip onto his shirt. Then he

aving a baby with Maria," he said, wiping his mou

, and stormed out of the room,