I began crying harder.

Not because the explanation erased what he did.

Because he knew exactly why it was wrong.

I am sorry, my daughter.

Those last two words destroyed me.

My daughter.

I had spent ten days believing I was comforting a dying husband.

He had spent them sitting beside the child he thought he had lost forever.

PART 5 — THE INHERITANCE

When I could finally speak, I asked Arthur: