Another officer approached Derek.
“Mr. Collins, we need you to come with us.”
Derek looked at me.
“Amelia?”
I remained still.
“Tell them it’s a misunderstanding.”
The officer repeated the instruction.
Derek’s voice rose.
“Amelia, please! Don’t do this!”
I felt my hands begin to shake again.
But this time, I didn’t retreat.
“I’m not doing this to you, Derek.”
His face twisted.
“You know what I mean!”
“No,” I answered. “What I know is that you made decisions you expected me to suffer for. And now you want me to protect you from them.”
He looked toward my father.
“Mr. Harrington, please. I know how much you care about your daughter. I’m willing to make everything right.”
My father answered without raising his voice.
“Making things right begins with telling the truth.”
Derek’s eyes filled.
Then he looked back at me.
“I really did love you.”
