Months later, Mark asked me to meet for coffee. He told me that the adventure was over and he admitted that the secret and guilt were pretty much the only thing he and Jenna shared.
“I destroyed everything,” he whispered.
“You hurt a lot,” I replied.
I wanted him to help him get the relationship with Daniel back, but I refused. For 31 years I had tried to keep our family together by softening the uncomfortable truths. I wasn't going to do it anymore.
When he asked me if I hated him, I thought about it carefully.
"No. I hate what you did. But hating you every day would mean continuing to give you too much space in my life.
Daniel took longer to heal. He worked, attended therapy and eventually found a small apartment to live alone.
Almost a year after the wedding, he came to dinner home.
“Do you ever miss Dad?” he asked.
