“Why did you leave the picture on the floor, Mom?”

“That’s where I threw it.”

“Why didn’t you throw it out?”

“I don’t know. I wanted to. I was ready to pick it up and hurl it into the nearest trash can.”

“And…?”

“Instead I left it on the floor.” She shrugged her shoulders lightly. “I don’t know why. Maybe I wasn’t quite ready to let it go.”

“Let go of what? Dad’s dead.”

“Let go of the memory of what we had.” She sighed. “Or rather, what I had. I have no idea what he thought we had. I thought I knew him so well, and now… He was the loving husband and father who went off and did unspeakable things.”

“I know. All those business trips when I was young.”

“He was an attorney then, before he was mayor. He had some high-profile clients. It made sense that he’d travel. I never thought to question any of it. How could I hav

e been so naïve?”

“We were both naïve.”

“You were a child, Bryce. This isn’t on you.”

“Mom, I haven’t been a child for the last twenty years. This is on me too.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” she said.

“I could give you the same advice.” I took the photo from her. “What do you want me to do with this?”

She looked to the ceiling for at least a minute, seemingly lost in thought. Then she met my gaze. “Throw out the frame and the broken glass. Keep the picture. Hide it in a book somewhere. I know it’s ridiculous, but although I don’t want to see it, I can’t bear to part with it.”

“I understand.” I walked to the crib, leaned down, and kissed my sleeping son lightly on his forehead. “I’ll take care of this, and then I’m going out for a while.”

“At this hour?”

“Yeah. Just back to Joe’s. He has some information I need.”

“All right. I love you, honey.”

I kissed my mother’s cheek. “Love you too, Mom.”

Chapter Forty–Five

Marjorie

Colin stared at his lap for seconds that seemed like hours. Jade seemed to feel sorry for him, and I knew I should as well. He’d been to hell and back, but so had my brother. So had all of us in our own way, and his time to talk was running out. I had no idea how long Talon would allow him in this house. He could storm out of the office any minute and demand Colin leave, and he’d be well within his rights.

Still, I waited for Jade to make the first move.

And I waited.

Until I could wait no longer.

“We’re waiting, Colin,” I said.

He messed with his sleeve again.

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