I told him peace built on secrets isn’t peace at all.”

“Then why wait?”

“Because there is one more part, and it belongs to Paige.”

PART 6

Violet asked whether I knew the details of Paige’s adoption.

Of course I did, or believed I did.

Our daughter had come to us through a licensed agency when she was an infant.

We had records, a court order, and letters written by her birth mother for her to read when she felt ready.