Page 45 (1/2)

Children who, like Elsa, would be shaped by heartache

BY THE TIME ELSA got back to the far down Her fa about Rose and Loreda were in the kitchen,roo oil into the straps of a leather harness

The children’s lives would never be the sae, but especially their opinions of themselves, of the durability of love and the truth of their family They would know forever that their father hadn’t loved their h hard times

What did a good ly truth?

Or was a lie better?

If Elsa lied to protect her children from Rafe’s selfishness and to protect Rafe fro while before the truth came out, if it ever did

Elsa walked past Tony and Ant in the sitting roo the pasta dough on the flour-dusted table Elsa squeezed her daughter’s thin shoulder It was all she could do not to pull her into her ar, but frankly, Elsa couldn’t handle another rejection right now

Loreda pulled away “Where’s Daddy?”

“Yeah,” Ant said fro room, “where is he? I wanna show him the arrowhead Grandpa and I found”

Rose was at the stove, adding salt to a pot filled ater She looked at Elsa and turned off the burner

“Have you been crying?” Loreda asked

“It’s just watery eyes froht so look for potatoes? I need to talk to Grandma and Grandpa”

“Now?” Loreda whined “I hate doing that”

“Now,” Elsa said “Take your brother”

“Coh away fros”