Then quietly said, “That’s what Dad said you’d do.”
My fingers tightened around the cardboard.
“What did you say?”
Daniel looked around.
“Can we go somewhere private?”
“Danny…”
“Please, Mom.”
Something in his face stopped me.
I handed the box back.
“Put them anywhere.”
Richard’s sister blinked.
I didn’t care.
—
Daniel led me into a small room behind the chapel.
The moment the door closed, I pointed at the dress.
“Start explaining.”
He looked down at himself.
“I know how it looks.”
“I sincerely doubt that, Danny.”
A tiny, miserable laugh escaped him.
Then he reached into the pocket.
“Mom, Dad wanted you to have something.”
My anger vanished.
Daniel pulled out a small object wrapped in white tissue.
“He told me you were supposed to get it after he died.”
“You said you didn’t promise him anything.”
“I didn’t.”
Daniel unfolded the tissue.