And I was a man who deserved a life built on respect.
On a spring day, almost a year after Ryan’s return, we went with the little girls to the seaside.
They started walking by holding on to my hands. Emma laughed every time a wave was close to her shoes, and Lily was trying to catch the seagulls approaching the promenade.
I sat on a bench and watched them play in the sand.
The phone vibrated.
It was Ryan.
“Claire, we received the final documents. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for everything. If I could turn around, I would do things differently.”
I watched the message for a long time.
Then I raised my eyes to my little girls.
Emma had just found a shell and ran towards me to show it to me.
I put the phone away and stretched out my arms.
Let me see what you found, my beloved.
