Chapter 20: Two Sentences

Garrison went first, because he always did.

I stood at the side wall with my arms crossed and watched him.

He stood at the stand with his hands at his sides and his glasses in his pocket.

Without them his face looked bare and tired.

"I keep the company's books," he said. "I'm the one who sees where the money goes."

A few people in the third row shifted in their chairs.

"Eight years ago I saw the first transfer to Mara's account.

"I saw it every month after. I knew it was a payment for something, and I didn't ask what."

He looked at Mara.

"Last Tuesday I asked one question in a chat about lilies. Then I let it go.

"I've let things go my whole life. Every time I did, it lasted a little longer."

His voice dropped.

"I am the reason this took fourteen years.

"I could have been the one who said stop. That's my sentence."

In the third row, Dad's bookkeeper put her face in her hands.

He reached into his jacket and took out a thick folder.

"This is every payment, with dates. It's yours, Mara. You should have had it from the start."

He crossed the stage and held it out.

Mara looked at the folder, and then at him.

"You were supposed to hate me," she said.

"I tried," Garrison said. "I couldn't make it work."

She took the folder.

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