“The story I told you about your father…”
She waited.
“It wasn’t true.”
Her smile faded.
“What do you mean?”
I swallowed hard.
“He didn’t abandon us.”
Silence.
“He loved you.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“He never knew where we were.”
I explained everything.
The pregnancy.
The threats.
The letters.
Leaving town.
Starting over.
The fear that had ruled every decision I’d made.
When I finished, Iris stared at the floor.
“I’ve hated him…”
She whispered.
“My whole life.”
“I know.”