“You always exaggerate.”

“The surgeon told me she might die.”

“You should have called instead of sending dramatic messages.”

Something inside Daniel went completely still. For most of his life, every conversation with Patricia had ended this way. She hurt someone, then rearranged the facts until the injured person looked unreasonable.

Daniel had spent decades apologizing for reacting to her behavior. This time, he did not argue.

“You are not seeing Lily,” he said.