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“What about Griffin?”

“Slip of the tongue” She waves away her explanation, ignoring the tactless nature ofhiirlfriend would do

I hope you knohat you’re doing, she’d whispered last night Maybe this will help convince her of my lie The lie I feel awful about

“But Griffin wasn’t handed any of the responsibility It all fell to Sandy, even the responsibility for Griffin’s education and the start of his career, but that’s another story” She turns back to the portrait “I like to think our parents married for love She didn’t coet the family back on track But my father couldn’t stay faithful So, they loved and then they hated, and rave”

“I’m sorry” So sorry for the pushed froain At least until the last in a long line of boyfriends decided Kennedy and I wereelse But at least we had Nana

“That’s kind of you,” sheback to face me “Did you have a happy childhood?”

“Yes, I did” Mostly “I was randmother, as a character and a half” I s, and my mother wasn’t much in the picture But, yes, I had a happy childhood”

“Sandy didn’t Our father was very char To woht Until he was done with them, I suppose But he was hard on Sandy, and he left hiossip or a history lesson I’ht like to hear it Sandy isn’t like our father, no matter what anyone says He’s loyal and just and puts his fa else

“Do you know theof the name Alexander? It means defender or helper of man I know his manner can be cold Superior, even And I know he can seeood man”

“I know” My voice is sood ht It’s more an observation An affinity, maybe

“I did tell hi to wish I hadn’t Griffin is—”

“Please” I shake et into this

“You’re a good person, Holland You deserve better”