We both believed it was for the best.”

I walked straight past him without looking at his face.

I didn’t raise my voice, and I didn’t call him a liar.

I left him standing beside the concrete pillar with his belly in his hands and his car keys jangling in his fingers.

Sarah walked next to me, her heels clicking sharply on the sidewalk.

We crossed the gravel drive that wound around to the memorial garden.

Through the trees I could see the crepe myrtle standing green in the sunshine.