Daniel turned to Lily.
“I owe you an apology too.”
She looked at him.
“I made you responsible for protecting the peace between adults. That was wrong. None of this should have been yours to carry.”
Lily nodded.
She did not tell him it was okay.
I was glad.
Sometimes forgiveness should not be demanded simply because someone finally apologizes.
I looked at all three of them.
“From now on, there is one rule.”
Paul waited.
Daniel waited.
“No more secrets.”
Then I turned specifically toward Lily.
“And especially no secrets that you are expected to keep for us.”
Her eyes filled again.
“You’re sixteen years old. Our grief, our arguments, our family history—none of that is your responsibility.”
She stared down at her hands.
After a long silence, she whispered, “I don’t want you to think I’m Maggie.”
My chest tightened.
“I don’t.”
“But I look like her.”
