“She’s funny and kind.

She’s also been alive almost five years without any of us knowing.”

Edward rubbed his eyes.

“I knew your mother thought Elena was a distraction.

I didn’t know about a baby.”

I wanted to believe him.

Priya had found no correspondence to him, and his shock seemed genuine, but the years had taught me the danger of equating a convincing expression with truth.

I told him the documents would guide what we concluded.