Family decisions becoming household conditions.
Nathan looked at me.
“I thought somebody was hiding the truth.”
I nodded.
“Someone was.”
His jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
He frowned.
“Not intentionally.”
I pointed to the files.
“Michael hid a construction problem from guests.”
“Nicholas may have hidden maintenance inconvenience from himself.”
“Mrs. Bennett hid hospital smells.”
“You hid uncertainty from the boys.”
He stared.
I continued carefully.
“Dr. Reeves hid how unsure he was behind diagnoses.”
The doctor flinched.
“And you?”
Nathan looked at me.
I held his eyes.
“You hid fear behind control.”
Silence.
He could have fired me.
Threatened me.
Dismissed me.
Instead he said:
“Yes.”
That answer changed everything.
Then Maya’s phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Her expression sharpened.
“We have the wall sample results.”
Nathan stood.
“And?”
“The residual sealant is still releasing trace solvents.”
“Enough to matter?”
“In a normal ventilated building, probably minimal.”
“And here?”
“With
