It rained the night Nora had been gone for a full year. I wore my mother's ceremonial gown. My father laid white flowers beside the stone, and Maeve carried a memorial lamp. We stayed there a long time without trying to pretend the grief was behind us.My wound had healed. Some mornings, waking up, I still put a hand over my belly before I remembered. I hadn't thrown out the little empty stool in my house.Lucien arrived last, alone, holding the lamp I'd first given him permission to leave. This time, I didn't make him stay outside the cemetery gate. My father took Maeve to wait under the porch while Lucien crouched in front of Nora's stone and wiped the rain from the edges of her name. He didn't mention another child or promise to rebuild the winter garden. "Nora. Daddy got here too late."Tears slipped down my face. He looked up without reaching for me, so I placed my hand in his. He held it gently.When the rain stopped, we walked home along the canal. Water from the lamp's glass co
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