Chapter 2 - Richard Finally Tells Ethan Everything
Richard kept one arm around Noah.
Ethan looked from the boy to Claire.
“Dad.”
Richard stood.
“Not here.”
“No. Here.”
The restaurant had gone silent.
Richard studied his son.
Then he said:
“Noah is your son.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Claire closed her eyes.
Victoria stepped backward again.
Ethan laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“That’s impossible.”
Claire finally spoke.
“I tried to tell you.”
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You disappeared.”
“No. You stopped answering.”
Richard turned toward Victoria.
“And now we know why.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“This is ridiculous.”
Richard reached into his coat and placed an old cream envelope on the
table.
Ethan recognized the handwriting immediately.
Claire’s.
Across the front were four words:
FOR ETHAN — PERSONAL, URGENT.
The envelope had never been opened.
Ethan looked at Victoria.
May you like
Richard said quietly:
“I found it in her safe.”
