I remembered bringing one of those discrepancies to Marlene’s attention and being told I was overstepping my duties.

Ruth looked at me over her coffee.

“Your father can be stubborn, Tessa.

But he wasn’t always this way.”

“I know.”

That was the worst part.

I remembered him coaching my softball team, standing in the rain because he promised he would.

I remembered him weeping at my mother’s funeral and telling me we would always take care of each other.