It was a second reason, laid on top of the first, a confirmation from the universe of a choice my heart had already made.

I did not fall in love with Maya because she was my niece.

I discovered she was my niece after I had already fallen in love with her.

The order of that has always mattered to me.

Chapter 7 — Mostly Medical

The woman paused when I asked for the file.

“It’s mostly medical,” she said, a little warily, the way people warn you off something they assume you do not really want to see.

I understood what she was doing.