Not because they looked identical.
They didn’t.
But Lucas tilted his head when uncertain exactly the way Grace did.
Exactly the way Daniel did.
Genes had crossed twenty years of silence and sat down across from him.
Lucas spoke first.
“So.”
Daniel nodded.
“So.”
Neither knew what to say.
Finally Daniel whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Lucas looked down.
“For what?”
“For not knowing.”
“That wasn’t your choice.”
Daniel nearly broke at that sentence.
Because it sounded like something Claire would say.
Lucas continued.
“My mother almost told you several times.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“She said your father convinced her you wanted nothing to do with us.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
Of course.
“What did he tell her?”
“That I was engaged.”
“I wasn’t.”
“I know.”
“That I had moved overseas.”
“I hadn’t.”
“I know.”
“That you paid her.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?”
Lucas slid copies of checks across the table.
