She turned toward Colleen.
“Is she lying?”
Colleen remained silent, and Sarah’s entire expression changed immediately.
“Ms. Colleen?”
Still no answer.
Then Adrian appeared at the opposite end of the hallway.
The second he saw me, he stopped.
For the first time that day, fear appeared on his face.
“Meredith.”
I turned to face him.
“You finally remembered my name.”
Sarah moved forward. “Please tell me she’s lying.”
Adrian looked toward his mother.
Then toward Julian.
Neither of them rescued him.
“Sarah, I can explain.”
She slapped him.
The sharp sound carried through the hallway.
Inside the ceremony room, guests began rising from their chairs.
Adrian lifted a hand to his cheek.
“Sarah.”
“You told me that she knew about everything.”
I froze.
Adrian shot her a sharp look.
Sarah began crying.
“You said Meredith knew you wanted out. You said the funeral was some legal mess your family couldn’t stop.”
I stared directly at Adrian.
He had lied to Sarah too.
A different lie.
The same cowardice.
“I didn’t know anything,” I told her.
Sarah covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Meredith.”
“So am I.”
Adrian stepped in my direction.
“Meredith, please listen.”
“No.”
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
That almost made me laugh.
“You let me bury you.”
