“We were trying to work things out.”
“And I wasn’t allowed to know?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then explain what you meant.”
His eyes filled.
For the first time since he walked through the door, some of my anger loosened enough for me to see how frightened he was.
But I was too hurt to rescue him from the conversation.
Paul sat down.
“I saw Lily before you did.”
Nobody spoke.
“Daniel sent me a picture when they moved back.”
His voice broke.
“When I saw her face, I felt sick.”
I closed my eyes.
Paul continued.
“She looked so much like Maggie. Not exactly. But enough.”
He wiped his face.
“I couldn’t breathe, Rachel.”
Anger and sympathy fought inside me.
“I thought if you saw her without warning, it would destroy you.”
I stared at him.
“But I did see her.”
“I know.”
“And then I came home and told you there was a girl in my classroom who looked like our daughter.”
