“I know.”
“And you let me think grief was making me imagine things.”
“I thought you’d eventually stop noticing the resemblance.”
The room went quiet.
“I was trying to protect you,” he whispered.
Something in me hardened.
“No.”
Paul looked up.
“You were trying to control what happened.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“You decided what truth I could handle.”
“I lost Maggie too!”
His voice finally rose.
Everyone froze.
Paul pressed both hands against his face.
“Do you think looking at Lily didn’t tear me apart? Do you think I didn’t see Maggie too?”
My anger softened, but only slightly.
“I know you did.”
“Then why are you treating me like I wanted to hurt you?”
“I’m not.”
I pointed toward Lily.
“I’m angry because your fear didn’t only affect me.”
Paul followed my gaze.
Lily’s eyes were swollen from crying.
“You left a sixteen-year-old girl trapped inside an adult secret.”
