Emma touched my arm.
“Mom?”
“Not yet.”
I turned toward her and David.
“I understand why you protected Ryan. I do.”
Emma nodded.
“But you let me stand in my kitchen last night and accuse your father of having an affair when both of you knew exactly who that woman was.”
“Ryan asked me not to tell anyone.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t want to break his trust.”
“And I’m not asking why you kept his secret. I’m asking why nobody found a way to tell me enough that I didn’t spend half the night thinking my marriage was over.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
“I thought I was protecting Ryan’s trust.”
She swallowed.
“I didn’t realize I was breaking yours.”
Her words hurt.
David stepped closer.
“I handled it badly.”
“Very badly.”
“I should have told Ryan that once you thought it was an affair, keeping everything secret wasn’t possible anymore.”
