I waited.

“So did Jack.”

That stopped me.

Jack almost never talked about his childhood.

“You knew him then?”

“Yes.”

“And now?”

“I work with children and families moving through the system.”

“Is that why you visited him?”

“Yes. I was helping him locate Ethan and understand what could be done.”

I swallowed.

“Then whose child is Ethan?”

Mara shook her head.

“I promised Jack I would not tell you.”

“That makes no sense.”

“He wanted you to choose whether you wanted the answer.”

“He’s dead. I’m pregnant. I have a four-year-old. Why would he do this?”

“Because he didn’t want another responsibility dropped into your lap while he was dying.”

I stared at her.

“Did my husband have another family?”

Mara looked miserable.

“That is exactly the question he made me promise not to answer.”

“So that means yes.”

“No. It means if you want the truth, you have