Something about his face made me stop moving.
My father, Nathaniel, had been my anchor for thirteen years.
He had helped me survive the loss of Emily.
He had helped me raise Lily after Carl disappeared.
He had sat beside me during school performances, waited in hospital corridors during Lily’s checkups, repaired broken faucets, assembled birthday gifts, and shown up for every ordinary moment a grandfather could show up for.
I trusted him more than anyone alive.
Yet that night, he looked almost frightened of me.
“Olivia,” he said.
I put the plates down.
“What?”
He rested both hands on the edge of the table.
“Honey, I’ve done something terrible to you.”
My stomach tightened.
“What are you talking about?”
His eyes filled with a shame I had never seen there before.
“I need you to forgive me.”
“For what?”
He looked toward the staircase, making sure Lily was still upstairs.
Then he said the sentence that changed everything.
“He made me swear I wouldn’t tell you anything until today.”
My whole body went cold.
“Who?”
But I already knew.
There was only one person whose secret could make my father look that guilty.
Dad swallowed.
“Carl.”
