“I’m afraid I think I did.”

“May we hope that’s the end of it, then?” Julia said.

“It won’t be while you have the souvenirs you took, will it, Bella? The ones you didn’t think you should bring here.”

“Thank you for showing consideration, Bella,” Julia said.

“Why did you think you shouldn’t bring them?”

“Because you told her not to, dad.”

“I don’t think that’s quite the case, and—”

“If it’s even slightly true,” Julia said, “that’s just as bad.”

“I’m asking Bella what she doesn’t want you to know.”

“Dad, why are you doing this? What’s making you behave this way?”

As I saw Julia find an answer, Bella said “About what you call my souvenirs, do you mean, Patrick?”

“What would you call them?”

“By their names.”

“Hear that, Julia. That’s the kind—”

“I’m with Roy,” Bella said. “I don’t understand why you’re having to act like this now. Is it for Julia’s benefit?”

“I assure you I’m not putting on an act,” I said mostly to Julia, “and—”

“You weren’t like this at Brightspring, dad. You were into it then.”

“And Patrick,” Bella said, “you didn’t have this attitude when Thelma was collecting from the sites. You were interested then and you were later.”

I wanted to believe she’d trapped herself, not me. “How would you know that?”

“Roy told me.”

“And how would he know? He wasn’t even old enough for school when Thelma died.”

“Because you told me, dad.”

All of them were gazing at me. Julia looked concerned, but only about me. “It’s true, Patrick,” she said. “You were definitely fascinated. I’d like to know what’s changed.”

“I’m sorry, Bella, but you have. That’s to say you’ve changed my feelings.”

Julia opened her lips in an unhappy shape as Roy demanded “What’s Bell done to you, dad?”

“Not just to me in particular.” Bella’s innocently puzzled look was making me determined if not desperate to penetrate beyond it. “I believe you’re keeping secrets from us all, Bella.”

Julia closed her mouth, apparently to prepare another contribution, and Bella said “Tell them then, Patrick.”

“I believe I’ve met your father.”

Julia parted her lips without speaking, while Roy grimaced with surprise if not denial. Bella’s eyes widened, which I took for confirmation, and Roy demanded “When?”

“Before you were born.”

“Why are you only saying now? Have you been trying to trick Bell?”

“I’m not the one—” I cut the accusation short by saying “Because I only saw the truth today. Maybe the spring woke my mind up, Bella.”

I wasn’t sure I thought this – it was more a sly gibe – but she said “What truth was that?”

“Things you have in common with your father. I expect you can think of a few.”