She wanted both, but she would no longer trade the second for the first.

PART 19

Margaret wrote to Clara three times.

Her first note explained how frightened she had been after Rebecca died and how much responsibility she had carried in the mansion.

Clara stopped reading when the explanations began to sound like excuses.

The second letter apologized but asked Clara to persuade Idan that his grandmother was not a bad person.

Clara folded it away unanswered.

She would not ask a child to manage the feelings of an adult who had hurt him.