Chapter 17
Her voice broke.
“I was wrong.”
I looked at her.
“Yes,” I said softly. “You were.”
She nodded.
“And I'm sorry.”
For the first time, I believed she understood at least part of what she had done.
I reached for her hand.
“Thank you.”
She squeezed it.
“I don't expect you to forget.”
“I won't.”
She nodded.
“But maybe, someday, I can earn your trust.”
I looked at the plaque.
“Maybe.”
And that was enough for that day.
Then I noticed someone standing near the back of the lobby.
A tall man in a plain blue shirt.
His hands were clasped nervously in front of him.
Derek.
He hadn't approached us.
He hadn't interrupted the ceremony.
He simply stood there, looking at Lily's name.
Ryan noticed him too.
His expression tightened.
“Do you want me to ask him to leave?”
I studied Derek for a moment.
Then shook my head.
“No.”
I took a breath.
“Let me talk to him.”
PART 8: THE HARDEST KIND OF VICTORY
Derek looked up as I approached.
For once, he didn't smile.
He didn't make a joke.
He didn't try to dominate the conversation.
“Claire,” he said quietly.
“Derek.”
He glanced toward the plaque.
“I didn't know about Lily.”
“I know.”
He swallowed.
“I've been thinking about what I said at the barbecue.”
I waited.
He looked down.
“I was cruel.”
“Yes.”
“And I hurt Ryan.”
“Yes.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I've spent most of my life acting like being the biggest guy in the room made me important.”
I said nothing.
“My dad always helped me. My mom always defended me. And whenever something went wrong, I blamed somebody else.”
He looked toward the hospital entrance.
“Nicole's attorney says we're going to have to work through a lot of things.”
I nodded.
“That's between you, Nicole, and the people helping you.”
He took a breath.
“I'm getting counseling.”
I looked at him carefully.
“That's a start.”
“And I've met with an attorney about the money. I'm cooperating with the bank's investigation.”
“Good.”
He swallowed.
“I know I can't fix everything.”
“No,” I said. “You can't.”
His eyes filled.
“I might lose my marriage.”
I looked at him.
“That decision belongs to Nicole.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
For a moment, we stood in silence.
Then Derek asked something I hadn't expected.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“How did you stop being angry?”