She couldn’t meet my gaze.
Alyssa turned back to the lawyer.
“So how is it that she’s his daughter?”
Mr. Bennett opened another file. “That’s why your father asked me to keep certain documents.”
He produced several photocopies.
“William Harper was aware of the issues surrounding Candace’s birth.”
My chest tightened.
“Did he know?”
” Yes. “
“Then why didn’t he tell me?”
Mr. Bennett looked at me.
“That’s a question you should ask yourself.”
I stared at the papers.
There was something familiar about the writing on the first page.
Dad’s.
I recognized her immediately.
He had written notes in the margins.
Dates.
Names.
Questions.
And a
sentence underlined twice:
I will not allow them to rewrite my daughter’s life forever.
I couldn’t breathe anymore.
Rosa’s note.
The office was locked.
The photographs.
The letter.
None of this had been random.
Dad had prepared something.
He had known.
Perhaps for years.
Alyssa tore one of the papers off the table.
” What is this ? “
“Put that down,” said Vivian.
Alyssa looked at her mother.
” For what ? “
“Because you don’t understand.”
“Then explain!”
Vivian stood up abruptly.
His chair scraped the floor.
