I waited.
“He said it was disproven.”
I stared.
“Disproven.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask how?”
“Once.”
“What did he say?”
“That his lawyer handled it.”
I looked out the window.
Over time, Adrian had apparently transformed:
I refused to verify it.
Into:
My lawyer handled it.
Then finally:
It was disproven.
That is how people protect themselves from old shame.
Vanessa said:
“I’m reconsidering the engagement.”
“That’s between you and Adrian.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want you thinking it’s because of the boys.”
“I don’t.”
“It’s because I watched him realize that he never checked something that changed five lives.”
She paused.
“I work in medicine.”
“I live by evidence.”
“I cannot marry someone without understanding why he rejected evidence because it threatened the story he preferred.”
Fair.
Then she asked:
“Do you want him back?”
“No.”
She studied my face.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Good.”
