“Maybe a year after Teddy was born? Right around the time Theo left the family business.”

“That’s how I think of it too,” I said. “Caro said Theo thought he was better than the rest of his family. But I remember thinking it was a lot cooler to be tracking down stolen idols like Indiana Jones instead of working for a hotel chain.”

“He spends more time in boardrooms than ancient temples,” Jude answered wryly. “Caroline felt like he was leaving her in the lurch.”

“Because of her postpartum depression?”

“She struggled hard with it,” Jude said. “Caroline told me her in-laws were really supportive of her, but Theo wasn’t. He wanted her to travel with him. Just bring the baby and go. Oh, and he wanted her to quit her job at his family’s company and become a journalist again. But Caroline needed help. Her in-laws stepped up. Theo didn’t.”

I recognized the truth of Jude’s words. Theo’s sister had never done much for her, but Theo’s father and stepmother had. I knew Caro genuinely loved them.

“Do you think Theo would ever hurt Caroline?”

“Physically? No.”

The ache to show her Caro’s message was stronger than ever. What’s holding you back? I asked myself. No matter what, I hated airing my family’s dirty laundry.

“Did you know she wanted to divorce Theo?” I asked.

Jude was silent, pursing her lips. Her phone buzzed.

I was incredulous. “You knew?”

Jude touched my arm. “Caroline swore me to secrecy,” she said. “Even though she’s gone, I can’t talk about it.” She glanced at her phone. “I’m sorry, but I have to get going.” Jude worked for the mayor, and she always had other places to be.

She tugged me into another awkward half-hug.

“You know you can call me if there’s anything you need—at any time—right?” she asked. “Please take care of yourself, Dee.”

Jude took off across the green grass with unusual speed for someone in heels. I shouldn’t have been surprised that my sister had confided far more in her best friend than she had in me. Caro and Jude had been close all their lives. I was Caro’s baby sister, and there was a long gap in our relationship that we’d papered over but never really resolved. I could pretend it didn’t bother me, but the truth was the distance between us had always hurt like hell.

CHAPTER 7 DEIRDRE

CHAPTER 7

DEIRDRE

Everyone else cleared out of the cemetery before I did. I watched gravediggers from a distance, filling in the void around Caro’s coffin, and I wanted to cry. I knew I should have shown my sister’s message to Jude, but I hadn’t been able to work up the nerve. It still felt unreal. I pulled out my phone and looked at the letter again.