He was about to answer when my father interrupted him.
“We didn’t come here to talk about her.”
“Then why did we come here?” I asked. “What are all of you hiding from me?”
No one answered. A few minutes later, my father received a phone call and stepped away from the table. The moment he
walked onto the balcony, Robert leaned toward me.
“Listen carefully. Whatever you learn tonight, don’t judge him until you’ve heard the entire story.”
“Why? What did he do?”
Robert glanced toward my father.
“Twenty-two years ago, he made all of us promise that you would never learn about that night.”
“What night?”
“The night your mother placed the baby in his arms and told him she would never return.”
I stopped breathing.
“What are you talking about? I was told my mother died.”
Robert’s expression changed. He seemed to realize that he had already said too much. At that moment, my father returned.
I abruptly stood up.
“My mother gave you a baby and disappeared? Has she been alive this entire time?”
My father said nothing. His silence felt like an answer. I grabbed my bag.
“You’ve lied to me my entire life.”
“Emily, sit down.”
“I grew up believing my mother was dead because of you. Now I find out that she may be alive somewhere.”
“Please open the envelope.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“There’s no money inside.”
