I asked, “You knew about me?”
Her smile disappeared. “Of course.”
I turned toward Robert.
Ariella looked between us. “What’s wrong?”
I asked her, “Did you know I didn’t know about you?”
She looked at Robert.
“You told me she knew.”
Robert closed his eyes.
Ariella stepped backward. “What?”
He said, “I told you she knew I was dealing with something from my past.”
“No.”
Her voice sharpened.
“You told me she knew about me.”
“I didn’t say exactly that.”
“You absolutely made me think that.”
Ariella looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“I thought you knew.”
“I believe you.”
Robert said, “Can we please sit down?”
“No,” I said.
Ariella looked close to tears.
“I didn’t mean to cause problems.”
“You didn’t.”
“I just wanted family.”
That silenced all of us.
She looked at Robert.
“My dad died. Then my grandmother died. I found out there was another person out there who was connected to me, and I wanted to know him.”
Her voice cracked.
“I wasn’t trying to take him from anyone.”
I walked toward her.
“You didn’t.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I thought maybe you didn’t want to meet me.”
