truth was kinder.
Rowan concealed the guarantee to protect me.
Selina redirected correspondence to protect me.
I concealed my father because I wanted to protect the life Rowan and I had built.
We had all protected each other so aggressively that trust quietly disappeared.
Dad moved beside me and put an arm around my shoulders.
“Your mother used to say secrets charge interest.”
I wiped my eyes.
“She actually said that?”
“No.”
I stared.
“She should have.”
I laughed again.
“Dad.”
“She did say that silence tends to become more
