though it forced Tara to confront her own behavior.
And she was grateful for it.
As we finished lunch, Elaine approached me with her phone.
“I still have Tara’s recorded explanation,” she said quietly. “Would you like me to keep my copy, send it to you, or delete it?”
I thought for a moment.
“You can delete yours. I’m keeping mine for now.”
She nodded.
Then she deleted it.
No questions.
No speeches.
Nobody suggested that forgiveness required me to erase the evidence.
Across the room, Nick was feeding Nora
