“Why would she think I would not help,” he asked.
Ruth hesitated. “Because she believes people like you do not keep people like her.”
Ethan looked down at his sons. They would not meet his eyes. The doctor arrived an hour later, calm and direct.
“She is stable,” he said. “Severe exhaustion and dehydration. We are keeping her overnight.”
Ethan exhaled shakily. “Can we see her.”
“Yes.”
They followed him into the room. Lila lay propped against pillows, eyes fluttering open. When she saw the boys, her face crumpled.
“I am sorry,” she whispered. “I did not mean to scare you.”
Noah grabbed her hand. “Do not do that again.”
Eli pressed his forehead against her arm. “You promised.”
Lila looked at Ethan then, her gaze holding something unreadable.
There was silence until Eli spoke again.
“Dad,” he said carefully. “We need to tell you something.”
He pulled a photograph from his pocket.
Ethan recognized himself instantly. Younger. Standing beside a woman he had loved briefly, fiercely, and foolishly long ago. In her arms was a baby.
His baby. Lila closed her eyes.
“I did not plan for you to find out like this,” she said quietly.
Ethan could barely breathe. “Are you telling me that you are…”