“I know.

But I don’t always say it.”

I hugged her and looked back at the kitchen.

The counter was covered in harmless birthday mess, the tea kettle was cooling on the stove, and the silver frame sat on the shelf by the window.

A year earlier I’d gone to my brother’s wedding with a secret invoice and a plan to teach somebody a lesson.

What happened was messier than I had imagined, and I had things to regret along with things to be proud of.