Walter lied to me.

I looked at them until I could believe both.

The next week, when Helen came by Dana’s apartment for coffee, I let her hold Owen for a few minutes while I stayed beside them.

He gripped her finger and immediately tried to put it in his mouth.

Helen laughed and then cried.

I did neither.

I was too busy witnessing a beginning that did not have to erase what came before.

PART 8