“I have loved Paige without conditions since the day we held her,” I said.

“The only person suddenly looking different is you.”

PART 7

We left the diner without settling the mystery.

Violet gave me the address of a storage unit where she kept the box and an envelope containing the name of an attorney who had once helped her file missing-person inquiries.

Gregory offered to drive me home.

I refused.

I drove alone through farmland, stopping twice because tears blurred the road.