I’d heard Trent talking about the renovation. And I’d seen the way Gerald looked at Lily. At me.
By lunch, I couldn’t stand not knowing. So I texted him: Can we finish the conversation?
He answered almost immediately. Yes.
THE SECOND-FLOOR RENOVATION
That afternoon, I sat across from Gerald again. This time I didn’t let him avoid the subject.
“The tattoo isn’t the only thing you’ve been hiding.”
He said nothing.
“Trent mentioned your renovation.” His shoulders stiffened. “He said you were rebuilding the second floor for a family.”
Still nothing.
I forced myself to ask. “Is that family supposed to be Lily and me?”
Gerald closed his eyes. That was my answer.
Eventually, he spoke. “At first, everything I did was for Nathaniel.”
I listened.
“Helping you. Fixing things. Taking care of Lily when you were exhausted. It felt like something I owed him.”
I nodded.
“But somewhere along
