“Why?”
“Because people change their stories.”
I deserved that.
He asked twenty-seven questions.
I counted.
He asked whether I regretted marrying Madeline.
He asked whether I regretted Carter.
I said no.
Carter was innocent of how he came into the world.
He asked whether I would have returned if I had received Claire’s letter.
That question took longer.
“I don’t know.”
Nathan stared at me.
“That’s the first answer I believe.”
It hurt.
But I appreciated it.
“I want to say yes.”
I continued.
“But the man I was then might have chosen money again.”
Nathan closed the notebook.
“At least you know that.”
“I do.”
He finally ordered a milkshake.
Vanilla.
No whipped cream.
Another tiny fact.
Another treasure.
Our relationship grew slowly.
Painfully slowly.
There were no dramatic hugs.
No instant forgiveness.
Some weeks they called.
