Stephanie hesitated only a moment before pushing back her own chair. Besides, she was done eating.
Once her plate was dropped into the sink, her feet carried her down the hall to where Mrs. Hamilton stood by the staircase, one hand resting against the banister as though her strength had suddenly drained away.
"I'm sorry," Stephanie whispered. Her voice was small and careful, because the weight of guilt pressed down on her chest. She didn't want to be the reason two loving couples fought.
Mrs. Hamilton turned, her features softening at once. "You didn't do anything wrong, Stephanie." She reached out, brushing her hand lightly against Stephanie's cheek. "It's your guardian who should never have brought your father into this."
Stephanie lowered her gaze. There had been a time when the mere mention of her father would have cut her open, raw and exposed. But those days were gone. She had stopped caring, or at least she told herself so.
