Lydia shook her head.
“You didn’t have the right to choose that for me.”
Elaine closed her eyes.
“I know.”
That answer hurt because it sounded sincere.
Then movement behind Elaine caught Lydia’s attention.
A man had stopped several yards away.
Gray hair.
Dark jacket.
Small suitcase.
He raised his left hand and rubbed his eyebrow while staring at her.
Once.
Twice.
Lydia felt seventeen again.
Her father had always done that when nervous.
Graham Carver slowly lowered his hand.
“Lydia?”
Hazel whispered beside her.
“Mom… is that him?”
Graham took one step forward.
His eyes moved from Lydia to Hazel and then to the sleeping baby.
His face crumpled.
“I am so sorry.”
Lydia had imagined hearing her father’s voice again thousands of times.
She had never imagined anger would arrive before joy.
“You watched my life from a distance.”
Graham nodded.
“Yes.”
“You knew about my children.”
