Alice whispered, “Dad.”
Aaron leaned back slightly.
I stared at my husband.
Patrick had always told me I was the first woman who made forever sound sensible.
“You told me you’d never come close to marriage before me.”
“I was 22, Jess.”
“I didn’t ask how old you were.”
Across the table, Aaron spoke.
“I didn’t know any of that.”
Alice turned toward him.
“You didn’t? Thank God.”
He looked at Patrick.
“My mom mentioned someone named Patrick once. Years ago. That’s all.”
Patrick’s attention returned to the tattoo.
“What did she say?”
Aaron’s expression tightened.
“That she’d loved someone when she was young.”
“And?”
“That he wasn’t ready to choose the same life she was.”
Patrick fell silent.
“Did she talk about me often?”
“No.”
Somehow, that made everything feel worse.
I stood and picked up two plates.
Patrick looked at me.
“Jess, leave them.”
“I need something to do.”
“You always do that when a conversation gets uncomfortable.”
He was right.
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