“I did.”
He went quiet.
“I don’t know how to call you Dad.”
“Andrew will do until you’re ready.”
Before hanging up, he asked, “Did you ever have another family?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I already had one.”
“Did you ever have another family?”
***
Near the end of her life, Clara found a clipping about my yearly bridge memorial.
Realizing I had never stopped searching, she recorded a message asking Gwen to help the children find me.
Aria found the tape hidden among Clara’s belongings in a box Gwen had packed.
“Play it,” I said. “Peace built on a lie isn’t peace.”
Clara’s weakened voice filled the room.
“Peace built on a lie isn’t peace.”
“Aria. Shaun. Your father loved you. Gwen believed she was protecting me, but fear isn’t truth. I should’ve asked your father for the truth.”
Aria covered her mouth.
“Gwen said you caused Mom’s stroke,” Shaun said from the doorway. “She said Mom collapsed because you chose another woman.”
My hands tightened around my cane.
