Verena pushed a bouquet into the open memorial urn belonging to Alden’s late wife and deliberately moved the lid away when six-year-old Milo reached for it.
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Chapter 16 / 17
Chapter 16
Years later, I dated again.
Slowly.
A woman named Camille Hart.
Architect.
Divorced.
No interest in becoming Evelyn.
Good beginning.
On her third visit to the estate, she saw the urn.
Asked:
“Do you want me to pretend that doesn’t exist?”
I almost laughed.
“No.”
“Do you want me to ask about it?”
“Only if you want.”
“Do you visit it?”
“Sometimes.”
She nodded.
Then:
“If it ever feels like I’m dating both you and your grief, I’ll tell you.”
Direct.
Excellent.
I said:
“Please do.”
No promise that it would be easy.
Just permission.
That was more than I had given Verena clearly.
May you like
Not enough to excuse her.
Enough to learn.
