She was sitting in the VIP section of the most exclusive academic gala in the country, gazing calmly toward the stage, and I understood with sudden horrifying certainty that my past had not stayed buried at all.

It had walked into the room to collect what it was owed.

“Roderick?

Why are your hands shaking?” I set the glass down and gripped my knees to hide the tremor and blamed the air conditioning.

Delphine followed my gaze to the woman in green and her lip curled.

“God, look at her.

Like some public-school mother who won a raffle.

That dress is off the rack.