Wade’s face changed. Not much, but enough. Shame lowered his eyes.
“I would have gone,” I said. “That’s what you’re waiting for me to deny, isn’t it? I would have gone to him. If I knew he was dying, I would have gone.”
Elise took a step toward me. “Mom—”
“I would have gone.” Saying it a second time made the truth settle differently. “I might have missed an infusion. I might have told myself one day wouldn’t matter. Then another. I know what I was like with my mother.” I turned on Wade. “That still did not make me his property.”
Wade nodded once. “I know.”
“No, you know now because I am standing here and you have to hear me say it. Back then, you and Randall decided that because you could predict me, you owned the decision.”
He flinched.
Good, I thought. Then hated that part of myself for being glad.
