Broken Bridges Can Be Fixed

Giovanni

"Why did you bring me here?" she asks when we're in the car. "I thought you needed me, but you just seem really pissed off with me every time you see me."

"I'm not pissed off with you. Being back here is harder than I thought it would be. That's all."

"Then let me help you."

I turn to her. "Stay away from my brother. That'll help me."

"You're wrong about him. He's really just being nice."

"What did he tell you about me?"

She looks straight ahead as we drive. "He told me about your parents and Ann."

I snort. "What did he say? Paint her to be a saint?"

"No, actually, he didn't. He told me about the affair and finding out he was your brother by blood. And he told me how much influence his mother had over your father. He gave the impression she was unfaithful, and you tried to protect your father and that it backfired."

I'm silent for a moment because it's the truth. And I guess I didn't expect Declan to tell the truth. Or maybe that his version would be different than mine.

That