Because standing there in that doorway, with all seven of my grandchildren behind me and my son on the porch like a stranger asking to be let in, the truth was plain.
I just felt hollowed out by their confession.
Maybe they had genuinely planned to return for the kids once, but that had stopped being part of their plans a long time ago.
“You should leave,” Aaron said.
Daniel took one last look at me, then he turned away. Laura lingered a moment longer, tears in her eyes, but then she followed Daniel.
There was nothing in that house for them anymore except the damage they had done, and all seven of those children had finally learned how to look it in the face.
I shut the door, and when I turned around, all seven of them moved in for a group hug.
