Chapter 6 - THE SON WHO DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER FAMILY
Ethan didn't react the way I'd hoped.
When I told him about Olivia, he stared at me.
"You have another kid?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
I almost smiled.
"Ten years."
He frowned.
"That's before me."
"Yes."
He looked down.
"Did you know?"
"No."
He considered that.
Then asked:
"Does that mean you love her more?"
The question broke my heart.
I moved beside him.
"No."
He didn't look convinced.
"Ethan, love isn't a pie. Giving someone a piece doesn't mean there's less left for you."
He frowned.
"That's a weird example."
I laughed.
"Fair."
He looked toward the photograph of Sarah.
"Mom would've liked her?"
I swallowed.
"I think so."
Ethan stared at his hands.
Then whispered:
"Are you going to leave me to be with them?"
I pulled him into my arms.
"Never."
He held me tightly.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he asked:
"Can I meet her?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
The meeting took place at a children's museum.
Claire brought all four girls.
I brought Ethan.
At first, everyone was awkward.
Olivia stood beside Claire.
Ethan stood beside me.
Emma whispered something to Grace.
Lily stared at Ethan.
Then she asked:
"Are you our brother?"
Ethan blinked.
"Sort of."
Lily considered.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
She grabbed his hand.
"Come see the dinosaurs."
Ethan looked at me.
I nodded.
He followed.
Within twenty minutes, all five children were building a model city together.
Claire watched them.
"They seem happy."
I smiled.
"Kids are better at this than adults."
She laughed softly.
For the first time, I saw the woman I'd loved eleven years earlier.
Not frightened.
Not exhausted.
May you like
Just smiling.
And I realized how much I'd missed that smile.
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