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In the living roo on the coffee table where she’d left them

They weren’t hers to open

Still, she stared down at the accordionlike array of letters The envelopes were unsealed; she could see that Maybe Lexi had wanted to reread what she’d written over the years

She finally picked up the whole box and sat doith the it rong to read them

Just one To see if this will break Zach’s heart …

She pulled out the first envelope in the box and opened it The letter inside ritten on cheap white paper Gray splotches marred the surface Tears

This letter was dated Nove time to write this first letter

With a tightening in her chest that felt a little like the start of a panic attack, Jude began to read She had read only the first few paragraphs when the front door opened and Zach walked in He looked nervous, upset

“Hey, Mo his backpack onto the floor It skidded across the hardwood and thunked against the wall He shoved the hair out of his eyes io with Lexi today?”

Had it always been that way, she wondered suddenly? Had he always had Lexi on the forefront of his s off?

“Listen to this,” Jude said

“Can I listen later? I want to know—”

“It’s a letter Lexi wrote to Grace in prison ”

“Oh, man…” Zach collapsed onto the La-Z-Boy chair by the fireplace

Jude sa afraid he was to hear these words, and she understood It was easier to suppress heartache than to overcome it At least that was the road they’d both chosen She cleared her throat and began to read: