Rebuilding What Was Broken

Meredith stood in the middle of the living room, still uncertain.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” she said softly. “I thought you’d be disappointed in me.”

I shook my head.

“I am disappointed,” I admitted.

She looked down.

Then I finished the sentence.

“In myself.”

I held her hands carefully.

“I should have protected you sooner.”

The following morning I changed passwords, contacted financial auditors, and began correcting everything that had been hidden.

When Meredith saw her name added to every document and account, she looked at me with quiet confusion.

“Why are you doing that?”