I offered them a transparent update and agreed to extend the contingency period rather than pressure them to take a risk they hadn’t chosen.

That evening I sat on my balcony while the sky turned orange.

It was the first time since leaving Gordon that I felt truly afraid.

PART 15

I found Walter’s last personal letter while preparing documents for Elaine.

It was folded inside the green ledger, tucked between two pages recording the cost of replacing the kitchen windows.

Margaret, it began, you may someday wonder why I did this.

I hope you will read the answer without feeling that you owe me anything more.