“Grace, your husband knew who she was asking about.”

Behind us, a pair of orderlies rolled an empty bed down the corridor.

A woman with a paper cup moved aside to let them pass.

The hospital continued with its ordinary sounds, refusing to acknowledge that my world had stopped.

“You said he begged you to keep something from me.”

“Yes.” Dr.

Bradley swallowed.

“He asked that Hannah be allowed to tell you herself.

He was trying to protect a conversation she wanted to have on her own terms.”

“Was she going to tell me?”

“I believed she intended to.”

“And you never thought I deserved to know?”

His face tightened.

“I think you deserved honesty.