Weeks later, they told us Livia had contacted them.

Liam.

“And I made you carry a secret no son should have had to carry.”

Livia wiped her cheek with Rose’s blanket.

“If we try this,” she said, “Mitchell stays my husband. Natalie stays Rose’s grandmother. Liam is not punished. And you don’t get to be cruel to Mitchell because you’re hurt.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“And you don’t get to tell this story like I broke your heart for no reason.”

“I won’t,” I said.

Rose fussed softly.

For the first time, I did not reach out as if love