No argument could change that.
No explanation could make the childhood photographs include her.
No accusation could place her in the empty seats at school concerts.
And no speech at a wedding could erase the man who had been there instead.
Later that night, Elena approached Chloe privately.
“I shouldn’t have said those things.”
Chloe looked at her.
“No.”
“I wanted Julian to understand.”
“By blaming Dad?”
Elena looked ashamed.
“I’ve told the story that way for so long.”
“That doesn’t make it true.”
“No.”
For once, she didn’t argue.
“I don’t know how to fix this.”
Chloe looked across the room.
Her father was trying to teach Maya’s little boy how to balance a spoon on his nose.
“You don’t fix fifteen years tonight.”
Elena followed her gaze.
“What do I do?”
