“I didn’t mean to. He turned his head,” he said with tears wetting his cheeks, anger bleeding from his soul. “He was a fighter. He knew better than to turn his head.”

“He did. I know that now, but back then I didn’t know the difference between what you meant to do and what happened. I was twenty-two, a pregnant, hormonal mess, and the man I’d have given my life for had died at the hands of the only other man I’d have done anything for.”

That jagged knife twisted in his heart, enveloping him in an agonizing blur of pain and sorrow. “I’m sorry” fell lamely between them, and he turned to leave.

“After Mom died, you promised to always be there for me,” she said sharply. “And you were, Tobias.”

He froze.

“You were there when Dad was a dick and when I was homesick at college and cried all night. You were there for me after graduation, when I wasn’t sure I’d ever find a job or if I even knew how to be an adult.”

Those memories brought more pain.

“Of course you were there for me when you found out the awful truth about Kevin.”

He closed his eyes against those painful memories. Breathe. Just fucking breathe. He turned around, taking in the tears streaking her cheeks, her lower lip trembling.

“It wasn’t your fault, Tobias. It was mine. I should’ve left him the first time he hurt me, or told you what he was doing, but I was so in love with him, I was in denial. I was young and stupid, and Dad had basically disowned me when I got pregnant. I had you, but you were training all the time and just getting started with a real career and a life with Michelle. You’d taken care of me forever, and I didn’t want to be a burden anymore.”

“You were never a burden.”

A small smile appeared, but the despair in her eyes remained. “I know that now. I’m ashamed to admit this, but loving Kevin wiped away everything Mom and Dad, and even you, had ever taught me. I didn’t even know that was possible, and his death took the end of my rope and unraveled what was left of the person I’d been.”

Tobias clenched his jaw. “How did I miss the signs?”