Chapter 10 - Nathan Tells His Whole Story
Months passed before Alicia agreed to have dinner with Nathan.
He did not bring flowers.
Good choice.
He told her the complete story of his childhood.
Laura’s addiction.
David’s inconsistent presence.
Foster care.
The aunt who finally took him in.
School forms asking for parents he did not know how to describe.
At seventeen, Nathan began telling people both parents were dead.
It ended questions.
The lie followed him into adulthood.
By the time he met Alicia, correcting it felt humiliating.
“So you kept feeding it,” she said.
“Yes.”
“When Laura approached me, why didn’t you finally tell me?”
“I was afraid you’d leave.”
“I did anyway.”
“I know.”
Nathan did not ask for another chance.
That helped.
He said he needed to become someone who could tell an ugly truth before it became an emergency.
Alicia understood.
She had her own version.
She had hired an investigator rather than directly confronting Nathan when the stranger approached.
Her caution was reasonable.
But she too had delayed the central conversation.
They were not equally responsible for his lies.
Still, both had things to learn.
Laura eventually met Alicia properly.
She did not present herself as a tragic mother deserving instant sympathy.
She described rehab, relapses, absence, and regret.
Nathan listened without protecting her.
That mattered.
Robert remained suspicious of Nathan.
But he stopped trying to make Alicia’s decision.
“You’re twenty-eight,” he said.
“You finally noticed?”
“I’m adjusting.”
Evelyn became unexpectedly fond of Nathan.
Alicia warned her not to interfere.
“I’m only making pie.”
“You make pie whenever he visits.”
“That is not legally binding.”
Slowly, Alicia and Nathan began seeing each other again.
Not as an engaged couple.
As two people testing whether honesty could survive ordinary life.
Their first attempt lasted three weeks before a fight.
The second lasted longer.
No grand promises.
No wedding planning.
May you like
No hidden trusts.
Just questions answered before they became investigations.
