Owen looked ashamed.
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought if I mailed the watch normally, you’d put it away. Maybe for another year. Maybe forever. Daniel knew you. He said grief would make you hide anything that felt like another goodbye.”
“So you thought ice was better?”
“No.”
He dragged a hand through his hair.
“I thought it would make you stop and really look at it. By the time I saw what it looked like sitting on your porch, I realized how terrible it was. It was cruel. It was stupid. I’m sorry.”
I wanted to hate him.
That would have made everything easier.
Instead, I asked,
“Where is the rest?”
Owen’s expression changed.
“Daniel hid it himself.”
“Where?”
“Under the loose porch step beside your rosebush.”
My knees suddenly felt weak.
“He told me where it was, but made me promise I wouldn’t send you there unless Evan returned.”
