“Because two days later, I saw Paul carrying a folder from a private
adoption agency.”
The room went silent.
PART 8 — WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?
I stared at my sister.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“You saw an adoption folder.”
“I asked him.”
“And?”
“He said it was paperwork related to a burial assistance program.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“I know that now.”
“Helen, you were twenty-nine.”
Her face collapsed.
“I was scared. Mom told me you nearly died. She said questioning
anything would destroy you.”
I stepped away.
“For forty-one years?”
“I tried once.”
“When?”
“After Mom died.”
That had been twenty-two years earlier.
“What happened?”
“Paul threatened to take Christopher away if I upset you with what he
called conspiracy theories.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Paul couldn’t have done that.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
“Yes.”
PART 9 — AARON
Aaron had gone completely still.
Finally, he said:
“I was adopted.”
