And suddenly I understood the title.

To Julian, his children had been his masterpieces.

Not because of anything they accomplished.

Simply because they were his.

I kept reading.

And then I reached an entry dated only three months before Julian came to the hospital.

I found Caleb.

My breath caught.

I read the sentence again.

Then again.

Below it was an address.

And beneath the address, Julian had written:

I am afraid to knock.

---

Chapter 9 — The Son He Could Never Find

“Arthur,” I whispered.

“Does Caleb know Julian died?”

Arthur nodded.

“He does now.”

“Now?”

“He found out this morning.”

I stared at him.

“You knew him?”

“I have known Caleb for years.”

The room suddenly seemed much smaller.

“Then why didn’t Julian tell me?”

Arthur gave me a sad smile.

“Because Julian was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“That Caleb would look at him and see the father who failed to save Lily.”

I closed my eyes.

For all those years, Julian had carried that guilt.

Even after finding his son, he had been too afraid to knock on his door.

“He wanted you to do it,” Arthur said.

“Do what?”

“Give Caleb the notebook.”

My heart began pounding.

“I don’t understand.”