“You don’t have to tell us.”
“I want to tell you some of it.”
Arthur stood.
“I can leave.”
Grace surprised everyone.
“Stay.”
He sat again.
Grace smoothed the pages.
“Mom wrote the letter because Mrs. Whitmore suggested it. Mom knew things were difficult. She knew Dad was struggling with what happened at work, and she knew I was old enough to notice.”
Grace looked at Arthur.
“She didn’t blame you for everything.”
Arthur’s face tightened.
“She probably should have.”
“No.”
Grace shook her head.
“That’s exactly what she said not to do.”
Arthur looked confused.
“Mom said Dad made mistakes. Your company made mistakes. You made mistakes. She said turning one person into the villain of the whole story would be easier than accepting that several people made decisions they later wished they could change.”
Arthur leaned back.
“That sounds wiser than anything I managed.”
