Chương 6
“Yes.”
“Did she call more than once?”
“Three times.”
“What happened after the first call?”
“I told her I didn’t believe her.”
“And the second?”
“She said you wanted a paternity test before you would consider contact.”
My head snapped up.
“I never asked for that.”
“I know.”
“Did you do one?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because a random woman in Canada doesn’t get to order me around.”
Despite everything, that sounded so much like Samantha that I almost smiled.
Her mouth twitched when she saw it.
The moment vanished quickly.
“What happened on the third call?”
Samantha looked toward the floor.
“She sent me an email.”
“With what?”
“A message supposedly from you.”
Cold moved through me.
“What did it say?”
“That you wanted me to stop contacting you.”
“Do you still have it?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see it?”
“Not now.”
“Why not?”
“Because my break ended six minutes ago.”
I blinked.
“That matters right now?”
“It matters if I want to keep my job.”
The absurdity of the sentence nearly broke something in me.
She had told me I had two sons and then checked the time because she could not afford to be late returning to clean an airport.
“I can help you.”
“No.”
“Samantha.”
“No.”
“You shouldn’t have to be doing this.”
Her face changed immediately.
“Careful.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You meant exactly how it sounded.”
“I meant you were an accountant.”
“And now I’m a cleaner.”
“I know.”
“Then say what you actually mean.”
I stopped.
People had always accused me of trying to repair discomfort with money.
Samantha more than anyone.
Five years had apparently not cured me.
“I mean I missed everything, and the first thing I’m trying to do is fix the part I can see.”
“That’s at least honest.”
She looked at the watch again.
“I have to go.”
“What about the boys?”
“What about them?”
“I want to meet them.”
Her whole body went still.
“I just met them.”
“No, you saw them.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“I want them to know who I am.”
Samantha shook her head.
“You don’t get to walk into their afternoon and become Dad before dinner.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Your face did.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it isn’t.”
I looked away.
She had known my expressions once.
Apparently she still did.
“What have you told them about me?”
“That their father lives far away.”
“You never told them I abandoned them?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn’t sure anymore.”
I looked back at her.
“When did you stop believing I knew?”
“About two years ago.”
“What happened?”
“I ran into Martin Blake.”
The name hit harder now.
“Where?”
“At a grocery store.”
She almost smiled.
“Very glamorous.”
“What did he say?”
“He recognized me.”
“How?”
“He had met me at one of your company dinners before the divorce.”
I nodded slowly.
“He asked how I was doing.”
Samantha’s fingers worried the edge of her sleeve.
“Then he asked how the children were.”
“That means he knew.”
“Yes.”
“Who told him?”
“I asked.”
“And?”
“He said Chloe had mentioned them.”
The corridor seemed colder.
“Before we started dating?”
“I don’t know.”
“What else?”
“He said something strange.”
“What?”
“He said he was sorry you had never gone through with the paternity test.”
I stared at her.
“That makes no sense.”
“It did to me.”
“Why?”
“Because Chloe had told him the same story she told me.”
I felt my stomach drop.
“That I refused contact unless there was a test.”
“Yes.”
“Why would she tell my boss that?”
“Maybe because she wanted the lie to exist somewhere besides in my head.”
I said nothing.
That answer was too plausible.
Samantha continued.
“I asked Martin whether he had ever discussed the twins with you.”
“What did he say?”
“He looked confused.”
I breathed out slowly.
“He said no.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s when you started doubting everything.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you contact me then?”
Her eyes hardened.
“I did.”
I stared at her.
“How?”
“LinkedIn.”
I frowned.
“I never got a message.”
“I sent two.”
“I barely use it.”
“I noticed.”
“What else?”
“I emailed your company address.”
“I changed departments around then.”
“It bounced back.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“I did.”
I stopped.
“When?”
“Twice.”
“What number?”
She recited it.
It had been mine.
I swallowed.
“I never saw those calls.”
“Maybe you didn’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means by then I had stopped assuming everything was simple.”
She checked the time again.
“I really have to go.”
“Wait.”
I stepped closer, then stopped when she stiffened.
“Can I see them again before I leave?”
Samantha looked toward the open corridor.
“Not today.”
“Why?”
“Because Lucas is already scared.”
I glanced back toward the vending machines.
Only one blue backpack was visible from where we stood.
“What did he ask you?”
“He asked why you looked like Noah.”
The sentence hit me in the chest.
I looked down.
Samantha’s expression softened for the first time.
“They notice more than people think.”
“What do they know about fathers?”
“Enough.”
“Do they ask about me?”
“Sometimes.”
“What do you say?”
“That you live far away.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s what they need.”
I nodded, though every part of me wanted more.
“When can I see them?”
“I don’t know.”
“Samantha.”
“I said I don’t know.”
“Tomorrow?”
“No.”
“This week?”
“Ethan.”
“Give me something.”
She closed her eyes briefly.
“Sunday.”
I waited.
“We usually go to a playground near our apartment Sunday morning.”
“What time?”
“Ten.”
“Where?”
She hesitated long enough to remind me that she had spent five years protecting two children without me.
“Independence Park.”
I knew it.
“Can I come?”
“You can sit with me first.”
“Fine.”
“Without your mother.”
“Absolutely.”
“Without Chloe.”
That answer took half a second longer.
Samantha noticed.
“Is that a problem?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She started to leave.
“Samantha.”
She turned.
“Why didn’t you tell the boys my name?”
May you like
Her face changed in a way I could not read.
“I did.”
