The letter dropped from my hands.

Anna didn’t move to pick it up.

“Is it true?” I said.

My voice came out as almost nothing.

“Yes,” she said.

Chapter 4: The Child I Never Knew About

The kitchen was very quiet.

Outside, a car passed slowly on the street.

A dog barked twice somewhere down the block.

Inside, neither of us moved.

“You were pregnant,” I said again.

Not a question this time.

Just the words, out loud, because they didn’t feel real yet.

“Yes.”

“And Carol knew.”

Anna looked at me steadily.

“I don’t know exactly what I said at the door that day.

I was nervous.

I may have told her I needed to speak with you urgently.

I may have said more than that.

I honestly don’t remember every word.” She paused.