CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 33
THE WOMAN NAMED MAYA
Her name was Maya Bennett.
She lived in Chicago.
She worked as a speech therapist.
She had brown hair.
Green eyes.
And a small scar near her left eyebrow.
Nathaniel stared at the photograph.
Elena stood beside him.
"She looks like Caroline."
"Yes."
"But not you."
Nathaniel said nothing.
The DNA test was performed in secret.
The result arrived two days later.
Maya Bennett was Caroline's biological daughter.
Nathaniel was not her biological father.
But Caroline had been her mother.
Nathaniel sat alone in his study.
For six years, he had believed he lost his wife and daughter in one terrible night.
Now he learned that one of them had survived.
He didn't know how to feel.
He didn't know whether to be happy.
He didn't know whether to be angry.
He didn't know whether he had the right to call himself her father.
Elena found him there.
"You should meet her."
"What if she hates me?"
"Then you let her."
"What if she doesn't want me?"
"Then you respect that."
Nathaniel looked at her.
"And if she does?"
Elena smiled gently.
"Then you begin."
The next morning, Nathaniel called Maya.
She answered after three rings.
Neither spoke.
Then she said:
"Is it true?"
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"Are you my father?"
He could not lie.
"Biologically, no."
Silence.
"But I was married to your mother."
"I know."
"She loved you."
"I know that too."
Maya's voice broke.
"Then why did she leave me?"
May you like
Nathaniel answered:
"She didn't."
