For three years, that small exchange had been a comfort and a torment.

I could hear his cheerful voice whenever I remembered it, and the thought of their last drive had kept me awake countless nights.

“Nothing you did proves you caused the crash,” I said carefully.

“But you chose not to welcome them when they arrived.

That is the part you are responsible for.”

Arthur nodded without looking up.

For the first time, I understood there were two different questions in this room.

One was whether I could forgive the father who had rejected Paige.