I simply heard the voice of a frightened, selfish man who had spent years assuming I would always be there to fix whatever scared him.

For the first time in my life, I chose not to fix it for him.

I turned off my phone completely and set it on the nightstand.

PART 3

At nine thirty the next morning, Chloe met me outside the brick building where Samantha Cross maintained her legal practice.

“You really do not have to come inside with me,” I told her as we stood near the entrance.

“I know I do not have to,” Chloe replied softly, reaching out to push open the heavy glass door.