Summer brought another kind of challenge.

The boys had begun to understand that knowing their father also meant asking questions about the people connected to him.

Robert remained a favorite because he was patient and willing to spend hours helping them build model bridges.

Evelyn was still a difficult subject.

One afternoon, Liam asked whether she had hidden the letter because she didn’t like us.

“She didn’t know you,” I said.

“She made a wrong choice because she was trying to control a situation she didn’t understand.”