Riley

My mother stayed quiet after that, her lips pressed tightly together as if saying another word might make everything worse. Nora nodded too, a little too quickly, her eyes still swollen and red. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and spoke in a hopeful voice.

“Yes… yes, let’s beg her,” she said. “Maybe she’ll forgive us. She always forgave us before, didn’t she?” Her voice cracked as she continued. “If we go on our knees and beg, maybe she won’t show Matthew the evidence. Maybe she’ll let it go.”

I frowned.

One thing was clear, whatever happened today had something to do with Matthew. That...