“These witnesses saw everything, described it in detail. They were children and teenagers, so what could they do against Nazi soldiers? But the adults? They did nothing! Maybe they were afraid they would be murdered, too? Except Father Desbois heard firsthand accounts that after the Nazis left, the graves shifted and writhed for days and people did nothing to help the victims. Even worse, they searched the bodies and stripped them of watches, money—any treasure.”

A tear trickles down my cheek. I pick up my napkin and wipe it away.

“Dad, Father Desbois’s mission in life has been to let the world know how dark humanity can be. Most of my classmates are good people. Yet, they’re doing nothing to protest this absurd assignment. If they had lived in Nazi Germany or in one of those countries Father Desbois went to, would they have stayed silent as their Jewish neighbors were murdered? Would they have turned them in and stolen their belongings?”

Dad clutches the edge of the table. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Cade and I have to do something about this. Maybe then others will, too.”

“I’ll support you and Cade in every way I possibly can.” He pauses. “We’ve done all right, haven’t we? You and I? Without a mother in your life, I’ve worried about you.”

“We’re good, Dad. Really.”

He looks at me and asks, “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I have you and Aunt Ava and Blair. I have Cade and his family.”

I know my parents’ story. They were never married, just lived together. When I was three, my birth mom packed up her things and walked out of our lives to be with another man. I don’t remember her and I’ve never had a need to find her. Dad was awarded full custody. She simply gave up her parental rights. Maybe I should miss having a mom, but I don’t. I never knew her. She’s my egg donor, that’s all. Whenever I’ve needed a mom, Aunt Ava has always been there for me. I’m so lucky my dad’s sister loves me like she loves Blair. The hardest part of my life was when Dad moved us away from Aunt Ava and Blair to Riviere. I thought I’d fall apart.