“I love Lucas.

I also know loving him doesn’t require me to pretend he behaved well.

Families get into terrible trouble when they confuse loyalty with silence.”

I thanked her for coming that first night.

“You chose to call,” she said.

“You chose to say what happened.

I just reminded him of things he already knew.”

When she left, Lucas walked her to the car and helped fold her coat into the back seat.