Evelyn sat nearby.
Not touching me.
Good.
I wasn’t ready for that.
Ten minutes later, the door opened.
Adrian stood there.
He saw me.
Then the player.
Then Evelyn.
He stopped.
“Claire.”
I looked at him.
“You lied about Denver.”
His face fell.
“Yes.”
“You met her.”
“Yes.”
“You had all this for eleven months.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He walked closer, carefully.
“Because I thought if I could restore everything first, I could give you your mother back in one perfect moment.”
I stared.
“You cannot give me my mother back.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
His eyes filled.
“I do now.”
I stood.
“You turned my family history into a surprise.”
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“You thought because the ending was beautiful, the secrecy would become harmless.”
“Yes.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying you know.”
“Okay.”
He looked miserable.
Good.
I needed him to.
Then he said:
