“Kendra, I am glad you called me, but I need you to hear something as well.

You cannot solve this by making me Lucas’s conscience.

He has to choose what kind of husband he wants to be after I leave.”

I nodded.

That was why I had invited her, though I had not found the words myself.

At eight fifteen, Mrs.

Gable asked to speak to Marian privately another day, to apologize for the harm caused by her grandson and offer companionship.

It was not the grand punishment Lucas had apparently feared.