« You knew her mother, » I said softly, my voice trembling. « You have a 15-year-old daughter named Evelyn. And you’ve been hiding her from me for seven years. »
He staggered back, sank into a chair, buried his face in his hands, and began to sob uncontrollably.
« I couldn’t look at her without seeing Sarah die all over again, » he choked out between heavy sobs. « The night of the accident, I was driving. Every time I held Evelyn as a baby, the guilt ate me alive. I convinced myself I was a monster. When I met you, I wanted a fresh start, but I was terrified you would leave me if you knew the truth. »
« Your mother wanted peace before she passed, » I said, handing him the handwritten letter. « She told me where Evelyn lives. She didn’t want you to carry this burden to your grave, and she wanted her granddaughter to know the truth. »
He looked at the address on the back of the photo, his hands shaking frantically. « What… what do we do now? » he asked, looking up at me with eyes full of fear and desperation.
I took a deep breath, wiping the tears from my cheeks, and made my decision.
« Tomorrow morning, we are getting into the car together. We are driving to that address. It’s time for you to stop running, and it’s time for Evelyn to meet her father. »
