He tried to calm himself by opening an old file on his laptop. Photos of Kara flooded the screen. Kara laughing in a faded college sweatshirt. Kara holding a cheap sparkler at a Fourth of July party. Kara leaning her head on his shoulder during nights when he talked about his ambitions as if the world belonged to him already.
Then he found a picture he had forgotten existed. It was a photo of a pregnancy test she had texted him, taken right before he left the city for a business trip that eventually became the start of his new life. He remembered brushing off the conversation that day, telling her they would talk soon. He never followed through.
His phone buzzed. A message from his assistant, Mateo.
Found her. Sending the address.
The next afternoon, Mason drove himself to the location. It was a modest apartment building in a quiet working class neighborhood. He waited across the street until he saw Kara exit the building with the boys. They wore backpacks that looked a little too big for their shoulders. She held their hands tightly, guiding them toward a bus stop.
He crossed the street slowly. “Kara.”