“He’s married.”
“He lives outside Bellmere again.”
“He came back six months ago.”
I laughed once.
“Of course he did.”
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Please.”
That stopped me.
His eyes were wet.
Not Adrian’s eyes.
His mother’s.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Noah swallowed.
“Because I thought you’d think I was choosing him over you.”
That hit somewhere anger could not reach.
I sat back down.
“Noah.”
“I’m not.”
“I know.”
“You don’t look like you know.”
I rubbed both hands over my face.
“Do you understand what he did?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“You know the story.”
“That’s different.”
I stood again.
“He left you alone the morning after your mother died.”
“You were four.”
“He wrote four words.”
