“When did he change the engraving?”
Claire frowned.
“What do you mean?”
I explained that the inscription was new.
Her answer surprised me.
“The ring was supposed to say something else.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Two days before Dad died, he went to a jeweler. He told me he was having the inside engraved for your anniversary.”
“What was it supposed to say?”
Claire swallowed.
“FORTY YEARS. STILL YOU.”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak.
“The next morning, we fought,” she continued.
“About Eli?”
“Yes.”
“He said that if I didn’t tell you, he would.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told him he had no right to threaten me after helping me hide Eli for all those years.”
Fair point.
“He became angry and left the house for several hours.”
“The jeweler?”
Claire nodded.
“When Dad collapsed the next morning, the ring wasn’t on his finger. I found the jeweler’s receipt in his pocket and collected the ring later.”
