EstherEsther had wanted to watch Jack swim, but the comfort of the bed pulled her in. She lay on her back, counting out the moments between pangs that scraped and snapped at her insides. The ache was worse than ever and had started to build up to a crescendo. But it had eventually settled and Esther, grateful and exhausted, had rested.
She understood instinctively why Jack wanted to immerse himself in flinchingly cold water. She thought of the brook back home and how it was often the only thing to soothe her rage or the injustice she often felt toward her mother.
Jack sought forgiveness from Freddie in the lake. Esther did not think he would seek to make amends, not by trying to drown himself or something mad like that. Instead she sensed Jack wanted to leave his hurt and grief there, an
