He looked at me.
“She didn’t tell me everything at once. She explained more as I got older.”
I nodded, though I doubted he needed my confirmation.
“But this letter was addressed to Grandma and Grandpa.”
Mom gripped the strap of her handbag.
Denise stepped forward half a pace.
“Ethan,” she said softly.
He looked at her.
There was no hatred in his expression.
That almost made it harder to watch.
“I’m not trying to embarrass you,” he said.
Denise swallowed.
“I know.”
“I need you to know that.”
“I do.”
He studied her face for another second, then opened the envelope.
The paper inside was older than the one in the blanket. Creased. Slightly yellow at the edges.
“I’m not going to read most of it,” Ethan said. “Because most of it isn’t anybody else’s business.”
Relief crossed Mom’s face.
Then he read.
