Chapter 3
I stared at the envelope in my hand.
The woman was already walking away.
"Wait," I called out. "Who are you?"
She didn't stop.
She didn't turn around.
She just kept walking.
Disappearing into the misty afternoon.
I looked down at the envelope.
My name was written on the front.
In handwriting I'd know anywhere.
Cara's.
My hands were shaking so badly I could barely tear it open.
Inside were two things.
A photograph.
And a letter.
I looked at the photograph first.
It was a little girl.
Nine years old.
Dark curly hair.
Cara's eyes.
And my smile.
My exact same dimples.
My nose.
My jawline.
I sank to my knees.
The grass was wet and cold.
But I didn't feel it.
I stared at that little girl's face.
And I knew.
Without reading a single word of the letter.
She was mine.
I unfolded the letter.
Cara's handwriting filled the page.
Neat at the top.
Shakier toward the bottom.
*My dearest Ethan,*
*If you're reading this, I'm gone. And I have so much to apologize for. Ten years of silence. Ten years of wondering. Ten years of pain I caused you because I was too scared to face the truth.*
*The night we fought, I'd just gotten back from the doctor. I found out I was pregnant. I was so happy, Ethan. I was going to tell you. We were going to have a baby. But then the doctor called back. The genetic tests came back. It's Huntington's disease. The same thing that killed my mother. The doctors said I had ten good years, maybe less, before the symptoms would become severe. And there was a 50% chance our baby would have it too.*
*I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't marry you knowing I'd leave you a widower. I couldn't make you watch me die. I couldn't risk passing this disease to your child. So I ran. I was a coward. I ran because I loved you more than I loved myself. I thought if I disappeared, you'd move on. You'd find someone healthy. Someone who could give you the life you deserved.*
*Her name is Lily. She's nine years old. And she's perfect. The test came back negative. She doesn't have the disease. I thanked God every single day for that miracle.*
*She asks about you all the time. I told her stories. About the man who loved stargazing. About the man who could make me laugh even on my worst days. About her daddy. She already loves you. She's been waiting for you her whole life.*
*I came back to marry you because it was my dying wish. But not just for the five days we had. I came back because I needed to make sure Lily would have you. All the legal paperwork is in this envelope. You're her legal guardian. She's yours now.*
*The woman who gave you this is my sister, Maya. She's been helping me raise Lily. She'll help you. She knows everything. Please don't hate me for what I did. I was so scared.*
*Tell our daughter I love her. More than the stars themselves. And tell her I'll be watching. Always.*
*Forever yours,*
*Cara*
The letter fell from my hands.
I looked up.
And there they were.
Standing by the cemetery gates.
Maya.
And a little girl.
Hiding behind her legs.
Peeking out at me.
With Cara's eyes.
And my smile.
I stood up.
My legs were unsteady.
I walked toward them.
Slowly.
Like I was in a dream.
Maya looked at me.
Her eyes were red from crying.
"She made me promise not to interfere until it was over," Maya said. "She wanted you to have those five days. Just the two of you. No complications. No worries. Just love."
The little girl stepped out from behind Maya.
She was clutching a stuffed owl.
She looked up at me.
May you like
And in that moment, my entire world changed forever.
"Are you my daddy?" she asked.
