And the shopping? The casino? The quarrels about money?
My mother sighed.
Those were real. Not all of our problems were related to Emily. After you moved in, we woke up alone and discovered how little we knew how much more to talk to each other. I was trying to fill my time with shopping and outings. Your father was taking refuge in work, food and silence. Each one accused the other of the things he didn’t want to admit to himself.
I watched the letter.
And yet, he asked me to hide the envelope from you.
My mother closed her eyes.
“Because he knew I would have tried to convince you not to open it. Not to hurt Emily. It was because I was afraid of losing you.
You wouldn’t have lost me if you had told me the truth.
- I know, Sarah. But fear is not always logical.
Before I could answer, a doctor entered the waiting room and called our name. We both got up right away.
