“You knew?”
“Not what he wrote.”
“Then start explaining.”
Claire sat across from me.
“Eli’s father left before he was born. Dad and I weren’t speaking then.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was ashamed.”
“Of having a child?”
“Of everything.”
She wiped at her face.
“When Dad and I finally started talking again, Eli was three. Dad came to visit. I asked him not to tell anyone yet.”
“Anyone?”
“You.”
That answer hurt more than I expected.
“Why me?”
“Because you had spent years trying to make me feel like part of your family, and I kept pushing you away. Then suddenly I had an entire child I’d hidden from you.”
“So you just kept hiding him.”
“At first, I thought I would tell you soon.”
“And then?”
“Every year made the lie worse.”
I gave a bitter laugh.
“That’s usually what lies do.”
