We sat in the same living room nest where they had read Daniel’s letters months before.
Noah knew first.
I saw it in his face.
“He saw us,” he said.
I nodded.
“When we were babies?”
“Yes.”
“And left anyway?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
Olivia began crying quietly.
Sophia stared at the wall.
Ethan asked, “Did his apology letters include that information?”
“No.”
“Then the apology was incomplete.”
“Yes.”
Noah stood.
His face had gone frighteningly calm.
“I don’t want visits.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Sophia said, “Me neither. Not now.”
Ethan folded Daniel’s letter into a precise square. “I need updated data before reconsidering.”
Olivia crawled into my lap like she was much younger than eight.
“Can Grandma still come?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. “Grandma did not know.”
Noah looked at me.
“Did you know?”
The question nearly broke me.
“No, baby. I didn’t.”
He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around my neck.
