Lily snatched the box back against her chest.
“But I don’t want to give it to you.”
For years, I might have comforted him.
Not tonight.
I picked up my handbag.
“Rachel,” he whispered.
“Please don’t leave.”
I looked at the man I’d loved for eight years.
“You let me believe your daughter hated me.”
“I was scared.”
“And you let her believe I hated her.”
He reached for my hand.
I moved away.
“You were willing to lose both of us rather than admit you’d lied.”
Vanessa stood beside Lily.
Patricia started crying too.
But nobody went to comfort her.
I walked outside.
A moment later, Lily followed.
“Rachel?”
I turned.
She held the wrapped present against her chest.
“Did you really want me at your wedding?”
My throat tightened.
“More than you know.”
She looked down.
“Why would Dad say you didn’t?”
I remembered the church.
