Chapter 21: At His Father's Grave

Ethan's POV

My father is buried at the edge of a county cemetery, under an oak tree, in a plot I paid for with my first army check.

The stone says Tom Rudd, and two dates.

It does not say partner, because I couldn't afford to carve it, and because for eight years I would not say it either.

Claire walked beside me up the gravel path in a plain navy coat.

She carried the wilted flowers from my car.

I had bought them three days earlier and hadn't known how to make myself come.

She had made me.

We stopped at the stone.

The wind moved the oak leaves, and a mower started up far off across the grass.

"Hi, Dad," I said.

It sounded stupid.

I tried again.

"They arrested Tull. He walked out of his own building in handcuffs, in front of the cameras. The board is putting your name back on the firm."

Claire laid the flowers down very carefully.

"I brought someone," I said.

"Hello, Mr. Rudd," Claire said quietly. "I'm Claire."

I almost couldn't breathe.

She stood up and kept her eyes on the stone.

"I know my family did this to you," she said. "I can't give back eight years. I can promise I'll never stop saying it was wrong."

I took the sympathy card out of my inside pocket.

Margo's handwriting, With deepest sympathy, the corner soft from years in the case.

I held it in front of the stone.

"Your mother sent this the week he died," I said. "I kept it so I would remember who to hate."

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