She admitted that choice had been cowardly.
Then came the sentence that changed everything again.
I have followed your life from a distance because Dad sent me photographs until he died.
And then:
I know Lily’s face because she looks like me.
I smiled through tears.
Of course.
The mystery that began because Stephen recognized Lily worked both ways.
Claire had seen Lily too.
The final paragraph was shorter.
There is one thing Dr. Mercer cannot tell you because he never knew.
Your biological father is still alive.
And he has spent thirty-eight years believing you died shortly after birth.
-END OF Chapter 4–
Part 5 of 5
I read Claire’s letter three times before calling anyone.
Not Daniel.
Not Stephen.
Not Margaret.
I went upstairs.
Lily was sitting on the floor arranging plastic animals into families.
Two giraffes beside a baby giraffe.
Three elephants.
One bear inexplicably living with several penguins.
“Who’s that?” I asked, pointing to the bear.
