I wasn’t sure whether I had lost her or whether she had simply grown up.

Over lunch Tessa asked, “What are you afraid of now?”

“That the girls will ask why their dad wasn’t there when they were born.

That they’ll think it was because of them.”

“You can tell them the truth at a level they can understand.

And you can tell them they were always wanted by you.”

“What if they want to know more?”

“Then you answer what they ask.