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Iris collapses into her, like she’s been holding herself upright by sheer will, and it has finally run out.

“It’s finally over, honey,” my mom says softly.

Charlie moves toward Iris next, crying openly.

“I’m so sorry,” she keeps saying. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Grady clears his throat hard and steps forward, eyes red. “I can’t believe how we’ve treated you.” He shakes his head, unable to speak.

Cameron’s jaw clenches as he tries to maintain his composure. “We should’ve protected you.”

Billie steps in last, her hands clutching Iris’s jacket like she’s afraid to let go. “You took the fall for him, and we just let you,” she whispers. “You were my idol growing up. I should’ve known you’d never—” She cries.

Iris doesn’t say anything, but she clasps Billie’s hand and then hugs her.

My dad steps forward then, his voice rough. “We owe you a lifetime of apologies,” he says. “And it still won’t be enough. Is there anything we can do to make this right?”

Mom pulls back just enough to look Iris in the face. “Where to even begin?”

She hands Iris a tissue, and Iris wipes her face before looking around the room.

“I would love nothing more than to move forward,” she says hoarsely. “I never dreamed the lie would change my life so drastically, but I put this in motion, and I did nothing to correct your opinions.”

She looks at Otis and holds her hand out to him. He ambles over and takes her hand. “You loved me despite what I tried to make you believe, and your support has been everything to me and Linc.”

He leans down and kisses her cheek.

“You’re my family,” he says.

And then Iris turns to my mom. “And you did the same,” she says. “You’d show up when I was having the worst day and make me smile. I don’t think you can possibly know what a lifeline you were for me. Not only were you emotional support—but there were many times when Linc needed new shoes or we hardly had any groceries, and it was like you just had a sixth sense about when we needed help.”

What?

“You were seeing Iris, Mom?” I ask in disbelief.

“From the time the baby was born, yes. I wish I’d gone sooner, but I got my act together when he came.”

She grins at Linc, and he gives her a sideways hug.

“How did none of us realize you guys were so tight?” Charlie says, staring at Mom and Linc.

“I thought it was crazy how quick you bonded at camp, but I couldn’t have guessed this,” Billie says.

“When I was little, Mom told me it was a game to keep Evy a secret, and when I got older and had more questions about Jennifer, Mom told me no one would understand if they knew we were close,” Linc says. “It was hard at camp, though. I guess I didn’t do a good job there.”

He grins at my mom, and she squeezes him again.

“I wanted to honor what Iris had decided about our relationship,” Mom says. “And—”

“I never wanted to put your mom in a bad position with you . . . or Jennifer,” Iris finishes.

This gets to my dad. He puts his head in his hands and has a good cry. “I can’t believe how wrong I’ve been,” he says.

Otis clears his throat. “While we’re doing true confessions, I think Maverick should confess how much he was involved behind the scenes . . . even if he was being a royal jackass in person,” he adds.

Linc’s eyes go wide, and his mouth falls open. “He was?”

He looks up at me, and I wince.