“Yes.”
I realized who you were.
“Why would your mother have them?”
“Because she knew.”
“Knew what?”
“About your mother. About you.”
“So his wife knew he had another child?”
I just never expected you to find me first.
“Yes.”
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No. I came here looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Because Dad asked me to.”
About you.
“After forty years?”
Claire glanced toward the stroller. “The twins. When they were born, Dad started talking about the family they’d never know because of choices he’d made.”
“So he suddenly grew a conscience?”
“Maybe. Or maybe becoming a grandfather scared him.”
“And you?”
I came here looking for you.
She hesitated. “After they were born, I kept thinking my children had an aunt who didn’t even know they existed.”
I looked at the babies. “Forty years.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. Forty years, Claire. He knew exactly where I came from, apparently kept pictures of me, and now he sends his daughter?”
“He was afraid you wouldn’t see him.”
Becoming a grandfather scared him.
What Claire didn’t mention was what he’d been holding onto all those years.
“He was right.”
I turned away.
Claire called after me. “You need to ask him why.”
“I don’t need anything from him.”
He was afraid you wouldn’t see him.
“You deserve to hear it.”
I stopped.
She held out a piece of paper.
His address.
You need to ask him why.
***
