He hid me because he was a coward.
That is the painful truth.”
Arthur drew a breath, but Eleanor raised one hand.
“No, Arthur.
We don’t soften it.
Daniel loved Helen, and he still lied to her.
Both things can be true.”
I looked into her face and saw Daniel around the eyes.
“Did you know about me?”
“Everything he would tell me.
He kept your photograph beside his chair whenever we spoke.”
“You spoke often?”
“Four times in twenty-six years.
He sent money because my son needed surgery, but I returned most of it when I learned it came from your joint account.”
Eleanor placed a cashier’s cheque in my hand.
“I have carried this for twelve years.”
I stared at the amount.
“This is more than he sent.”
“I added what I could.
I won’t begin our relationship with your money in my pocket.”
Richard snatched one of
