“That was a choice too,” he said.

For years I had imagined the Holloways as one solid wall of disapproval.

Standing in that study, I saw separate people, each with a different history of failure.

Evelyn had hidden evidence.

Robert had decided not to ask questions.

Tristan had refused to learn.

And I had let fear of further humiliation turn into years of silence.

None of those choices were equal, but they had all helped make the distance wider.