“Then why didn’t he come?”

I could have invented a gentle excuse.

I almost did.

Instead, I told her there had been a serious disagreement in the family and that her grandfather had been too ashamed and afraid to face people after Paige died.

I did not describe the unanswered doorbell or the last drive.

Those details belonged to an adult story Harper could learn more about when she was older, if she wished.

“Did Mommy do something bad?” she asked.