You found me on purpose.”
“You are being hysterical.”
“I am being clear.”
Behind him, a voice from somewhere deeper in the house said, “Dad, move.”
Footsteps came down the hallway.
William’s hand tightened on the frame, then fell.
The door opened wider.
“You knew exactly who I was.”
And Caleb stepped out onto the porch, looking exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days.
For months, I’d imagined what I would say if I ever saw him again. None of it survived the sight of him standing in his father’s doorway.
I faced Caleb on the gravel drive, Nora warm against my chest. “How long did you know?”
He didn’t pretend to understand. “From the bookstore.”
“So you found me on purpose.”
I didn’t want Nora.
“I recognized your name. Then I saw you and…”
“The red bicycle,” I cut in. “All those questions about my childhood. You knew exactly who I was.”
His eyes dropped. “I wanted to tell you.”
“For two years?”
“Emily…”
“He offered me a deal.”
“You listened while I talked about the family my mother worked for. You knew exactly who I was talking about. You let me fall in love with you without telling me you were part of it.”
“I was afraid you’d look at me and see him.”
I glanced toward William. “And when I told you I was pregnant, you disappeared anyway.”
Caleb took a step toward me. “Not because I didn’t want Nora.”
“Then why?”
Don’t miss
His hesitation scared me more than any answer could have.
I never planned to stay gone.
Caleb’s voice broke. “The night you told me, I drove straight here. I made him tell me what he’d done to your mother. He confessed.”
William gave a bitter laugh. “Don’t make it sound like I volunteered.”
Caleb shot him a look. “Then he offered me a deal. Stay away from you until the baby was born, and he’d finally release the family trust – one-point-six million my grandfather left me, money he’s controlled since I was nineteen.”
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