I whispered:
“That is why.”
“Yes.”
“That is why she always treated them differently.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew?”
“Yes.”
I ended the call.
I sat there for a long time.
Then I heard footsteps.
Emma appeared in the doorway.
She was holding her blanket.
“Mom?”
I quickly wiped my face.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Are you crying?”
I smiled.
“Just a little.”
“Did Grandma make you sad?”
I looked at her.
There was so much innocence in her eyes.
“No,” I said softly.
“Grandma didn’t make me sad.”
“What then?”
I reached for her.
“The truth did.”
She climbed into my lap.
After a moment, she asked:
“Are we ever going back there?”
I hugged her tightly.
“No.”
“Never?”
I looked toward the window.
Outside, the first day of the new year was beginning.
A clean sky.
A quiet street.
A new beginning.
“No,” I whispered.
“Not unless you want to.”
