“Deep denial. He’s aggressively posting photos on the HOA Facebook page, basically forcing people to congratulate him. But he looks manic. The cracks are showing.”

No sooner had I hung up than a text chimed from an unknown number — but the arrogance of it was a fingerprint.

Look at my son. If you weren’t so bitter and barren, you could’ve been holding him. You threw away a family, Sarah. Attached was a photo of a swaddled, red-faced newborn.

I zoomed in. Pam was right. The resemblance was undeniable.

I typed my reply slowly, every word a precision strike.

Are you absolutely certain he’s your son, Michael?