Amara could not talk for long.

I wanted every missing year explained before she closed her eyes, but the doctor had been clear. She needed rest. So I asked one question.

“Are Nora and Mia my daughters?”

Amara looked at me steadily.

“Yes.”

I believed her. We would arrange whatever records the law required, but I did not need paperwork before making sure the girls were safe.

I pulled a chair beside the bed.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“That wasn’t your choice,” she said.

“Maybe I should have found you anyway.”

“You thought I asked you to leave me alone.”

I nodded.

Three years earlier, the message arrived after our weekend in Chicago. It was cold and precise. Amara said she had moved on. She asked me to respect her family. I had read it so many times I could still remember the last line.

There is nothing for you here.

“I didn’t write that,” she said when I repeated it.

I sat back.

“You never sent it?”

“No.”

The doctor returned. He asked us to give Amara time to sleep. Nora did not want to leave. I told her we would be close, and the nurse promised to let us know when her mother woke.

In the family room, Daniel had news. He had reached the neighbor who called the ambulance. Her name was Mrs. Ellis. She had seen Amara become ill and stayed with the children until Celeste and another person arrived.

“Celeste told her she was handling it for you,” Daniel said.

I stared at him.

“She used my name?”

“Mrs. Ellis believed her because she knew about the engagement.”

The other person was a locksmith. He had not changed the apartment locks yet. According to Mrs. Ellis, Celeste had asked him to wait until the girls were out.

I called the apartment manager. He said Celeste had claimed to represent the property owner and had produced a notice stating Amara’s lease had ended. He had not verified the claim. I told him the children’s mother was in the hospital and asked him not to change anything while Amara’s lawyer reviewed it. He agreed.

I made sure Amara’s home was secured, then asked Daniel to find a lawyer who could speak to her when she was well enough. She needed independent advice, not someone who answered only to me.

Nora sat near the door with Mia on her lap. I went over.

“You and Mia won’t be asked to leave your home tonight,” I told her.

“Are we staying with you?”

“For now, we’ll stay close to the hospital. We’ll ask Mom what she wants when she wakes.”

She nodded, but her eyes were full of worry.

“Will the lady in the white dress find us?”

“No. Daniel and I know where you are. She won’t come near you.”

I asked Daniel to notify the hospital that Celeste and Victor were not permitted to visit the girls. I also made a report about the attempted lock change and kept the messages Mrs. Ellis and the manager sent. I wanted what happened recorded while the details were fresh.

That evening, I called Celeste. She answered at once.

“Is Amara all right?” she asked.

I had not told her we found Amara.

“You knew where she was?”

“Nora said she was in the hospital.”

“Before she reached the wedding, Celeste. You went to her apartment.”

There was a pause.

“Victor asked me to check on her.”

“Why would your father know her?”

“He knew she’d been trying to contact you.”

“For how long?”

“Adrian, you were building a life. She showed up whenever she needed money.”

“She sent me letters about my children.”

“I didn’t know what was in every letter.”

“Which ones did you see?”

“I’m not discussing this over the phone.”

“Then send me what you have. Don’t go to Amara’s apartment or contact the girls.”

I ended the call. My hands were trembling.

Daniel was waiting across the room.

“Paul found something,” he said. “The office mail log shows letters addressed to you from Amara Washington. They were marked for delivery to your home.”

“My home?”

“Yes. During the months Celeste had a key.”

I sat down beside Nora. She had fallen asleep with her head against the wall while Mia slept on a blanket.

I thought of all the birthdays I missed. The first steps. The nights Amara had managed alone. I could not reclaim them by being angry, however much I wanted to.

Nora stirred when I lifted her.

“Where are we going?” she murmured.

“To a room near Mom’s, so we can come back in the morning.”

“Are you coming too?”

“Yes.”

Her arms went around my neck. She was heavier than I expected, and I welcomed every ounce of it.