“She’s nineteen.

She was trying to choose between protecting the store and protecting a man she’d known since she was little.”

I thought of Clarence asking me not to tell Rebecca, and of how secrecy had placed everyone in impossible positions.

“Would you be willing to meet him?

Not today.

When he’s ready.”

“I’m willing to meet him now,” Denise replied.

“I don’t hate him, Mrs.