My husband pushed me down the stairs, and as I lay shattered at the bottom, my mother-in-law called my father and said, “Come get your worthless daughter and take her back.” Dad gave her only one warning: “If she has so much as a scratch, your family will answer for it.” They laughed at him because they had absolutely no idea who my father truly was.

I didn’t want the shadows from it following you.”

“You let me believe you wrote compliance reports.”

“I did write a great many reports.” A small smile flickered and disappeared.

“But I should have told you more once you were grown.

I’m sorry.”

Gabriel cleared his throat.

“Your father’s career is useful in one limited way.

He knows how to find qualified people and how to insist that records be preserved.