Then I heard Elena near Julian’s family.
“I wanted to be there,” she said. “Of course I did. But David made things difficult.”
Julian nodded. “Elena tried for years. He kept the girls isolated.”
A woman beside him stared at me.
Elena sighed. “You don’t know what it does to a mother to be kept from her babies.”
I set down my water glass.
Charlotte appeared beside me. “Dad.”
Violet’s eyes were wet. “Please tell me you heard that.”
“I heard.”
Evelyn’s voice was low. “Say the word.”
Stella whispered, “Not here. Please.”
Maya just stared at Elena.
I took one step forward.
Chloe touched my arm.
“Not yet, Dad.”
“She’s lying about all of us.”
“I know.”
“Then why wait?”
Chloe looked toward the white box near the gift table.
