The heavy brow.
The silver hair.
Richard.
Tyler’s father.
My breath caught.
“I saw him.”
“Who?”
“Tyler’s father.”
Priya went still.
“At the hospital?”
“I think so.”
“When Mason was born?”
“Yes.”
“But you hadn’t met Tyler yet?”
I stared at her.
“That’s what I thought.”
The bookstore door opened.
Mason came running toward us holding a book about famous airplanes.
Behind him, Vanessa carried another book.
This one was about trains.
Mason reached the table.
“Mom.”
I tried to arrange my face into something normal.
“What?”
“I picked one for Elliot.”
I looked at the train book.
“You did?”
“Yeah.”
He hesitated.
“Do you think I’ll meet him?”
The question cut through every legal document, every lie, every adult fear.
I pulled him into my arms.
“I think we’re going to figure out the safest way to answer all of these questions.”
He leaned against me.
