“What?”

“Walking away before saying something he’ll regret.”

I laughed once.

“I learned it after you.”

His face fell.

Not my kindest moment.

But not everything needed kindness that afternoon.

PART 3 — THE TRUTH IS WORSE WHEN EVERYONE OWNS A PIECE

That evening, Mason asked me the question I had feared for nine years.

“Did Dad abandon me, or did you hide me?”