He glanced at me, a brief flash of irritation crossing his eyes before he smoothed it over.

“Yes, Mother, overwhelmed. I knew you could give her the stability I couldn’t provide at twenty-two.”

Caroline didn’t blink.

Her right index finger tapped once, very lightly, against the edge of her phone case.

“So you left because you thought it was best for me?” she asked.

“Exactly,” Thomas said, leaning forward to close the distance between them.

“I didn’t want my own struggles and financial instability to drag you down.”

“I had to build a career in Richmond, to make sure I could actually support you when the time came.”

He gestured to his tailored suit, as if the expensive wool were proof of his devotion.

“And now, I am finally in a position to do that.”

The wind rattled the glass pane of the window behind his head, cold air seeping through the frame.

I looked at the phone resting on the low table.

The screen was dark, but I knew the microphone was active, capturing every syllable.

“You never called, Thomas,” I said.