“I know.” He looked down.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t that person.”

I believed him because he didn’t demand forgiveness in return.

Diane remained difficult.

She called on Sundays asking when I intended to “let the family heal.” I asked her whether she meant the girls or Brandon.

She usually changed the subject.

One afternoon she arrived unexpectedly with a pink dress for each child and announced she’d invited Brandon for dinner at my house.

“You can’t invite people to my home,” I said.