His eyes filled.
He hadn’t repeated a youthful mistake. He’d chosen it again.
***
The following week, I got advice about separation, finances, and what decisions Ben and I would need to make for Evie.
That afternoon, Diane came to my parents’ house.
She stood on the porch.
“I saved him, Liza.”
She stood on the porch.
“From what?”
“He was young. He had his whole life ahead of him.”
“So did Claire. And her mother.”
“You weren’t there.”
“And apparently I wasn’t allowed to know later either.”
“Claire had her mother.”
“So did Claire. And her mother.”
“And Ben was her father.”
“Why destroy your family over something that happened 18 years ago?”
“Because Claire contacted him four years ago. And you knew.”
Diane went still.
“I was protecting my son.”
“You protected him from consequences.”
“And Ben was her father.”
“We did what we thought was best.”
“You did what was easiest for Ben and called it best for everyone else.”
