Hollow.
Like he hadn’t slept properly in weeks.
But it was him.
The same curls.
The same chin.
The same mismatched eyes Nora had inherited.
I had rehearsed so many things I would say if I ever saw him again.
Every one disappeared.
Finally, I asked,
“How long did you know who I was?”
He didn’t pretend not to understand.
“From the bookstore.”
My stomach tightened.
“So you found me on purpose.”
“I saw your name on the event listing.”
His voice shook.
“Then I walked in and saw you.”
He looked at me.
“You had Sarah’s face.”
“The red bicycle.”
He dropped his gaze.
“All those questions you asked me about my childhood. You already knew the answers.”
“Yes.”
“For two years?”
“Emily, I wanted to tell you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That you would look at me and see him.”
He glanced toward William.
“My father.”
I stared at him.
“And then I got pregnant.”
Caleb’s face tightened.
“And you disappeared anyway.”
“No.”
He stepped forward.
“Not because I didn’t want you.”
“Then why?”
My voice broke.
“I spent thirteen days alone in a NICU, Caleb.”
His face crumpled.
“Why did you leave?”
He looked at William.
Then back at me.
“The night you told me you were pregnant, I came here.”
He took a breath.
“I made him tell me everything he did to your mother.”
William spoke from behind him.
“He already knew most of it.”
Caleb ignored him.
“Then my father offered me a deal.”
I stared at him.
“What kind of deal?”
“My grandfather left me a trust.”
Caleb swallowed.
“About $1.6 million.”
He looked at William.
“My father controlled it.”
“And?”
“He told me if I stayed completely away from you until after the baby was born, he would finally sign control of the trust over to me.”
Silence.
“And you agreed.”
Caleb didn’t look away.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“I told myself I was buying our freedom.”
He spoke faster now.
“I thought once the money was fully mine, he would never be able to control us again.”
“So you disappeared.”
“Yes.”
