Chapter 16
Years later, Oliver asked about Elise.
More carefully now.
“Mom died when I was a baby?”
“Yes.”
“Did Nora know her?”
“Yes.”
That surprised him.
“Did you?”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
Then:
“Who did she like more?”
Children.
Impossible.
“She loved us differently.”
He thought.
“Did she like Camille?”
Hard.
“She tried to be fair to Camille.”
Not the same.
He nodded.
Then asked:
“Why did Camille lock me?”
We had answered before.
Now he was old enough for more.
“Because she was afraid she wouldn’t matter if you loved other people.”
He frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No.”
“Can love lots.”
Exactly.
A child solving what adults destroyed relationships over.
“Yes.”
He smiled.
May you like
“Easy.”
Sometimes.
