OLIVIA’S POVI went back to Millbrook the next morning.Early. Before the house had fully woken up. I left a message with Clara and was in the car before seven thirty with my phone in my bag and the particular focused energy of someone who had made a decision the night before and was ready to act on it.The drive felt shorter than usual.My father was awake when I arrived. Actually awake this time. Not the drowsy half presence of someone still weighted with medication but properly alert. Sitting up in bed with his reading glasses on and a newspaper folded in his lap that a nurse had clearly brought him because he had asked for it specifically.He looked up when I came in.“You are early,” he said.“I know.” I set my bag down and pulled the chair close to the bed and sat. Not gradually. Directly. The way you sat when you had come for a conversation rather than a visit.He looked at me over his glasses.Took them off.Folded them slowly and set them on the newspaper in his lap.“You hav
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