Paige lived alone, worked as an architect, and had spent years keeping my world at arm’s length.

I had helped pay for her education.

She had spent the years since trying to demonstrate she owed me nothing for it.

“Do you remember what Mom said before she died?” Paige asked.

I remembered everything about that day and did not answer.

“She said we were allowed to leave the family business behind.

You were twenty-four and thought she was asking you to abandon Dad.”

“She was.”