“Yes, there was. But you sulked off and went inside with your piece of cake and ate it alone in the kitchen until I started opening presents.”

“No way.” Colleen laughed and rolled her eyes toward Shane. “That didn’t happen. First off, why would I do that? Second, I would remember it because that’s just mean.”

“It did happen. And it happened because you couldn’t stand when I won. You were my best friend and biggest fan unless it meant I showed you up, even at my own party.”

“It’s not true.”

“Except it is.”

Shane stepped in. “Point taken, Hallie. We remember events differently. Interviewing these people or even asking Dad about an old photo isn’t going to give us the facts . . . but it could give us a story that contains a more essential truth and allows him to see himself for a flash of a moment.”

“I don’t think that’s her point, Shane.” Colleen stared at her sister. “I think her point is that I can’t stand for her to be happier than me or to have more than me. She’s taken a very old and not accurate memory and used it to prove I’m a terrible person and that she is in the right. She wants to prove that my memory of the wedding day isn’t fully true.”

“Oh,” Hallie said, her eyebrows drawn down, her voice low. “Your memory of your wedding day is factually correct. I’m just telling you that not all of your memories are true.” She glanced at Shane. “And not all of Dad’s are true either. And not all of his friends’ stories are true. But a timeline is based on fact. It must be right.”

“I get it.” Shane sat down again. “Please work together on this. Please.”

“Why can’t you do what Dad wants?” Hallie’s words burst forth, rushing into the room.

“Me?” Colleen held her hand over her chest.

“Yes. Why can’t you just come live with him?” She took two steps forward to face Colleen. There was no avoiding her now. They were almost touching.

Colleen stood her ground. “Why can’t you?”

“Because I have a house and a family and—”

“A husband,” Colleen said. “So because you have a husband and kids you don’t need to move in, but because I have no one and nothing, I have to move in? Uproot my life?”

“That’s not how I meant it.” Hallie shook her head. “He loves you best anyway. You’re his favorite daughter.”

“That’s ridiculous. And if it’s true at all, then Mother loved you best—you were her favorite. And all of that doesn’t matter. We all love Dad.”

Shane stood and stepped between them, both taking a step back.