He knew exactly what I meant.
“That was Lana, wasn’t it?”
He didn’t answer.
“Patrick?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“You told me she was an old friend.”
“I didn’t want to explain everything.”
“So you lied.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You gave me an answer designed to make sure I wouldn’t ask another question.”
He had no response.
Aaron finally broke the silence.
“My mom didn’t talk about you much.”
Patrick looked at him immediately.
“Did she hate me?”
Aaron seemed surprised.
“No.”
“Was she angry?”
“I don’t know. Maybe once.”
He looked at the tattoo.
“But she built another life.”
“With your father?”
Aaron nodded.
“They married a few years after she moved.”
“Were they happy?”
“Very.”
Something changed in Patrick’s expression.
Aaron continued.
“They stayed together until my dad died.”
“And Lana?”
“She loved London.”
Patrick looked at him.
“Did she ever regret leaving?”
Aaron considered the question.
“Not that I ever heard.”
Then he added something I think Patrick needed to hear.
“You weren’t some shadow hanging over her entire life.”
Patrick looked down.
“She had my dad. Her work. Friends. Places she loved. She had a whole life.”
Lana had moved forward.
Which made me realize Patrick hadn’t hidden her because he was protecting Lana.
He’d hidden her because he couldn’t forgive the person he’d been.
“So who were you protecting?” I asked.
