My mother faced both criminal charges and civil suits.

Garrett was ordered to repay what he had taken from our account, which meant selling the sports car he had photographed himself beside so many times.

Chloe cooperated fully, and was the only one who ever came to me with anything like the truth.

“I knew what Mom was doing was wrong,” she said, at a quiet meeting, months later.

“I was just too afraid of her to say so.” I did not embrace her, and I did not shout at her.

“Choosing to do nothing,” I told her, “is still a choice.” We have never gotten back what we had as sisters.