He remained beside the patio table, making no attempt to approach us.
“I am furious with you.”
“Finding him may have been an act of love,” I said. “Bringing him here without asking me was not your decision to make.”
Tony nodded.
“You are right.”
“I am furious with you.”
“You should be.”
Before I could answer, my daughter’s voice came from behind us.
Denise came through the doors behind her.
“Why are you whispering?”
She sat in a wheelchair near the entrance, still wearing her pajamas. A staff member stood beside her.
Tony hurried over.
“You should be in bed.”
“I woke up, and everyone was gone.”
Denise came through the doors behind her.
I was not ready to forgive Tony. I was not even ready to understand him.
“Lily called reception when she woke up,” she explained. “One of our staff members went upstairs and brought her down.”
I looked toward the patio.
Robert was still standing beside his table.
I was not ready to forgive Tony. I was not even ready to understand him.
But the decision in front of us was no longer about either of us.
The choice belonged to Lily.
Lily studied the old photograph Tony had placed inside the envelope.
We took her upstairs and sat beside her bed.
I explained that Adam’s father was downstairs.
“Your biological grandfather,” I said. “His name is Robert.”
Lily studied the old photograph Tony had placed inside the envelope. It showed Robert beside Adam when Adam was ten.
Lily touched Adam’s face.
“He has my eyes.”
“Does Robert want to meet me?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Does Robert want to meet me?”
“He does.”
“Do you want me to meet him?”
I forced myself to answer honestly.
“I want you to choose.”
“I should have told your mom.”
She looked at Tony.
