Still tall.
Still rigidly straight.
Military posture even at Christmas.
Vanessa Cole stood beside him.
She was elegant without looking artificial.
Dark hair.
Red dress beneath a pale coat.
Adrian had one hand lightly against her back.
He saw me through the descending snow and smiled.
Controlled.
Polite.
Victorious, almost.
Exactly the expression I expected.
The aircraft settled.
The door opened.
I climbed down first.
Adrian started toward me.
Then Ethan stepped out behind me.
Adrian stopped.
Completely.
Ethan turned to help Lucas down.
Lucas landed beside him.
Adrian’s face lost color.
Noah came next.
Then Miles.
Four boys stood beside me.
The same gray eyes.
Dark-blond hair.
Familiar jaw.
Even the same slight shoulder lift Adrian made whenever he was uncomfortable.
No one spoke.
The rotors still turned behind us.
Snow spun outward.
But the people in front of Cedarcrest Estate seemed completely silent.
Adrian stared at Ethan.
Then Lucas.
Then Noah.
Then Miles.
He looked back at me.
“Claire.”
“Merry Christmas.”
His mouth opened.
“No.”
There it was.
Again.
Eight years later.
No.
Ethan heard it.
He moved closer to me.
I said:
“They’re eight.”
Adrian’s face changed.
“Eight?”
“Yes.”
“Quadruplets?”
“Yes.”
His mother covered her mouth.
Adrian’s father whispered something I could not hear.
Vanessa turned sharply toward Adrian.
“You knew she was pregnant?”
Adrian did not answer.
I did.
“I told him.”
Adrian finally said:
“She said she was pregnant.”
I stared.
Ethan stepped forward.
“Are you Major Adrian Vale?”
Adrian looked directly at him.
Something broke in his face.
“Yes.”
“I’m Ethan.”
Lucas introduced himself.
Then Noah.
Miles remained beside me before quietly giving his name too.
Adrian looked as though each name landed physically.
Then he asked me:
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I actually laughed.
One sound.
Pure disbelief.
“I did.”
“You told me you might be pregnant.”
“No.”
“I told you I was pregnant.”
“You refused the appointment.”
“I told you there were four.”
“I sent ultrasound records.”
“I sent birth notices.”
He frowned.
“What birth notices?”
That stopped me.
“You never saw them?”
“No.”
“Your attorney did.”
“What attorney?”
“Your divorce attorney.”
Adrian went still.
His father said quietly:
“He died several years ago.”
“I know,” I answered.
Adrian looked at me.
“What exactly did you send?”
“Everything.”
“Medical records.”
“Hospital updates.”
“Birth information.”
“Requests for paternity acknowledgment.”
His face grew progressively paler.
“I never saw birth certificates.”
“Your attorney’s office responded.”
“What response?”
I could still recite it.
“Major Vale declines further communication concerning unsupported pregnancy claims.”
Adrian stared at me.
Then shook his head.
“I never approved that wording.”
Vanessa asked:
“Did you tell your attorney she was lying?”
