I had no speech prepared for that.

I only stood beside her while the city lights flickered on.

PART 13

The records also exposed something Gregory had not known.

The first failed attempt to contact Violet after Rose’s death had never been sent by Alan.

It had been prepared by a social worker who believed he was unreachable, then filed away when the office changed staff.

A forwarding address appeared later but had been entered under an incorrect surname.

For years Violet believed Alan had deliberately erased her granddaughter.