Chapter 16 - LILY'S QUESTIONWhen Lily turned thirteen, she started asking questions.
"Was Dad always bad?"
I didn't lie.
"No."
"Did he love me?"
"Yes."
"Then why did he hurt us?"
I took a breath.
"Because loving someone doesn't automatically make a person good. People still have to choose what they do with that love."
She thought about that.
Then she asked:
"Do you hate him?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because hate keeps you connected."
She looked at me.
"And you're not connected anymore?"
I smiled.
"Not the way I used to be."
Months later, Lily told me she wanted to meet Ryan.
My heart stopped.
But I'd promised her something.
Her life belonged to her.
So we planned carefully.
Therapists.
Security.
A neutral location.
No surprises.
No pressure.
May you like
Only choice.
And one sunny afternoon in California, Lily finally met her father.
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Chapter 17 - FATHER AND DAUGHTERRyan stood beneath a tree in the park.
Chapter 18 - THE LETTER FROM THE PASTYears later, another letter arrived.
Chapter 19 - THE NIGHT I FINALLY UNDERSTOODYears after that dinner, I returned to the old Carter house.
Chapter 20 - THE DOOR I LEFT OPENThat night, everyone gathered around our table.
