I don’t want to erase her.”

“Good.”

I found it difficult to tell Warren how complicated my feelings were.

I had gained a father, but not a childhood with him.

I had answers, but every answer raised another question about why he’d stopped searching, what his father had done, and why Evelyn had allowed me to believe a story that wasn’t true.

“I am glad you’re here,” I said.

“But I can’t suddenly become the daughter you’ve imagined for thirty-two years.”