Andre and Amara building a snowman the morning after he told Caroline a flight had stranded him in Atlanta. Two birthday cakes. Two Christmas trees. Two children in pajamas opening gifts from the same man.
The images did not look sinister. They looked tender. That was what made them unbearable. “I thought he was a good father,” Caroline whispered.
“He is good with them,” Nia said. The statement surprised both women. Nia clarified, “That’s part of what makes this complicated. He has loved Amara.
I believe he loves Owen. Love did not stop him from lying.” Caroline wiped under one eye. “Owen worships him.”
“So does Amara.” For the first time, they were silent together rather than separately. The children became the center of every decision from that point forward. Nia and Caroline agreed on three immediate things.
Neither would allow Andre unsupervised access until they had spoken with attorneys and child therapists. Neither would lie to the children about the fact that they were siblings if paternity was confirmed. Neither would turn the other woman into a villain in front of them. That last promise mattered most because both knew bitterness could easily recruit children into adult warfare.
Caroline said, “I want a paternity test.” Nia nodded. “You should.” “He is Owen’s father.
I know he is. But I want paper.” “I understand.” Caroline studied her.
“Do you?” Nia looked toward the café window. “After yesterday, I understand wanting paper more than I ever have.” They exchanged phone numbers before leaving.
Not as friends. As witnesses. Andre contacted Nia through email the next morning because his number remained blocked. He wrote seven paragraphs.
He apologized. He called what he had done unforgivable, then spent most of the message explaining fear, shame, and how trapped he had felt once Owen was born. Nia read until the line I never stopped loving you and closed the email. That sentence angered her more than almost anything else.
It centered his feelings again, as if continuing to love her made the deception tragic rather than exploitative. She answered with five lines. Do not come to the house without written agreement. Communicate about Amara by email only.