work looked unremarkable from outside.
No dramatic declarations.
No grand gestures.
Just difficult Thursday conversations.
Rowan learned to say, “I’m scared you’ll be angry,” instead of hiding something.
I learned to say, “I’m disappointed,” before disappointment became distance.
We opened every financial account.
Every Mercer & Lane email.
Every old resentment.
I told him how deeply Selina’s comments had hurt even when I pretended they didn’t.
He admitted learning who Dad was made him feel foolish.
“Not because of the money,” he said.
“Then why?”
“Because I spent years believing
