For one completely irrational second, I wondered whether I had somehow been wrong.
Angela approached first.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t warn you. We needed to keep this private.”
Max explained that he was traveling to a nearby city for an event.
Angela had shown him my email.
And he agreed to make a short detour.
“My father disappeared when I was young,” he said. “I know what unanswered questions can do to a kid.”
Then he looked toward the house.
“Would you call Lily?”
NEXT PAGE
I walked upstairs.
I could barely speak.
“Someone is here to see you.”
Lily followed me downstairs.
The moment she saw Max, her entire face lit up.
She ran outside.
“Dad!”
Max immediately raised one hand before she could reach him.
“Lily.”
She stopped.
“I need you to listen to me.”
Her smile disappeared.
He spoke gently.
“I have never met your mother.”
Lily stared at him.
“And because of a medical condition I was diagnosed with
before you were born, I cannot be your biological father.”
The color drained from her face.
“But we look exactly alike.”
“I know.”
Max’s voice remained kind.
“But resemblance doesn’t change the facts.”
Then he added something else.
“You also need to understand that leaving your group was dangerous.”
Lily looked down.
“Those security guards weren’t trying to keep you away from your father. They were doing their jobs.”
Her face reddened.
“You can’t ignore boundaries just because you believe something strongly.”
Lily said nothing.
For the first time since Los Angeles, she looked embarrassed instead of angry.
Max studied her.
Then smiled slightly.
“For what it’s worth, though, the resemblance really is incredible.”
Lily touched her cheek.
“You think so?”
“I do.”
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Then Max glanced at me.
“And that actually gives me an idea.”
Lily looked up.
He explained that the neighboring city was holding a celebrity-looka
contest the following month.
Max was scheduled to make a guest appearance.
“There’s a junior category.”
Lily’s eyes widened.
“You want me to enter?”
“Only if your mother agrees.”
