It was not a final answer about the rest of our marriage.

I wasn’t ready to make one, and the source of the trust dispute wasn’t a reason to invent a divorce ending before that process existed.

His attorney brought the meeting to a close.

I left with Walter’s letter still in my folder.

Richard’s words would be documented by the adults responsible for the proceedings.

Emily did not need to hear them as a verdict on how much her father loved her.

That night, I told Rebecca only what she needed to understand about the next arrangements.