“If you want a real relationship with me, we can work on one slowly.

But I can’t keep accepting threats whenever something good happens in my life.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” she said.

“Then we’ll start with knowing the truth.”

PART 17

Christmas morning arrived with a thin layer of snow on the porch.

Marcus wore an absurd green sweater Helen had knitted for him years earlier.

I brought rosemary rolls to Frank and Helen’s house, where a small tree stood beside the fireplace and the mantel was lined with photographs of family vacations and ordinary afternoons.