Meanwhile, Grace moved quietly through our lives.
She helped our son with homework.
She braided our daughter’s hair.
She washed dishes and folded laundry without being asked.
She did everything possible to become easy to keep.
That frightened me most.
One afternoon, I found her in the laundry room with her face pressed into one of David’s pajama shirts.
She was crying so hard she did not hear me enter.
“Grace?”
She jumped and dropped the shirt.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you are not.”
She wiped her eyes.
“Please don’t ask.”
“I have done nothing but avoid asking.”
Her mouth trembled.
“What did you promise him?”
She looked toward the door.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Is he your father?”
Choose Baby Gear
Her entire body became still.
“Grace.”
“I promised.”
“Did he abandon you? Did he support you secretly? Is that why you are here?”
Tears spilled over her cheeks.
