“I never said that,” Noah objected.
“You did.”
“I said maybe.”
Margaret gave a watery smile.
Then Ethan stepped forward, serious as a judge. “I’m Ethan James. Are there rules here?”
A startled laugh moved through the room.
Margaret nodded, tears shining. “There used to be many.”
“Are they good rules?”
She looked toward Daniel.
Then back at Ethan.
“Some will need changing.”
Finally Noah marched up.
“I’m Noah Daniel,” he said.
Daniel’s head jerked.
The room went utterly silent.
Noah did not notice. “Mama said she gave me that name before she knew if you were coming back. But you didn’t.”
I closed my eyes for one breath.
That one hurt.
Daniel looked at me as if I had wounded him.
But I had not chosen his absence.
I had only survived it.
Margaret sank to her knees in front of Noah, uncaring of the expensive dress touching the floor.
