Austin went completely still, staring at me as if I had slapped him.

A heavy silence settled over the porch.

“If you honestly believe I did something terrible to your family, then I want you to ask me directly,” he said quietly.

“Did you?” I asked plainly.

The color drained from his face.

“Did I do what?”

“Did you do something wrong back then?” I demanded.

He glanced nervously toward the quiet street.