Chapter 5 - The Truth About My Birthday
We returned home after midnight.
No one spoke until Mom placed four cups of coffee on the kitchen table.
Vincent sat across from my father.
I remained standing.
“November eighteenth.”
Dad closed his eyes.
I continued.
“Vincent reacted when I told him my birthday.”
Mom sat down.
“Nora.”
“Why?”
Dad looked at Vincent.
Vincent didn’t answer.
Mom finally did.
“Because you were born exactly nine months after Daniel disappeared.”
I frowned.
“That still doesn’t explain anything.”
Mom looked at Vincent.
He suddenly seemed uncomfortable.
That frightened me.
“Mom.”
She took a breath.
“Before your father and I were together, Vincent and I dated.”
I stared at her.
Then at Vincent.
Then back at Mom.
“No.”
Vincent looked at the table.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
I almost laughed.
“This family is insane.”
Mom continued.
“It ended before Daniel and I became serious.”
“How long before?”
Silence.
My stomach tightened.
“Mom.”
Vincent finally looked at me.
“That’s why I asked your birthday.”
I stepped back.
“You thought…”
He nodded once.
“For a moment.”
Dad spoke.
“Nora is my daughter.”
I stared at him.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Dad looked at Mom.
Mom answered.
“We had a paternity test when you were a baby.”
Vincent exhaled.
“You knew?”
Dad looked at him.
“I needed to know.”
Vincent stood.
“And you never told me any of this?”
“You thought I was dead.”
“You could have sent one message.”
“If Arthur intercepted it—”
Vincent slammed his hand against the table.
“I lost both of you.”
The room went silent.
Vincent looked at Mom.
“I thought you disappeared because you blamed me.”
Mom’s expression softened.
“I disappeared because Daniel was being hunted.”
Vincent turned toward Dad.
“And you let me believe you died.”
Dad nodded.
“I did.”
Vincent looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then I walked toward him.
“So I’m not your daughter.”
Vincent looked at me.
“No.”
“Disappointed?”
He smiled faintly.
“Relieved.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“That sounded rude.”
He almost laughed.
“I mean relieved Daniel didn’t steal my girlfriend and raise my daughter while pretending to be dead.”
Dad looked offended.
“That is a terrible summary.”
“It’s accurate.”
Mom sighed.
“Both of you are exhausting.”
I sat down.
“Then what am I to Vincent?”
Dad smiled.
“That depends.”
Vincent looked at me.
“I had a sister.”
I waited.
“She died young.”
His voice softened.
“I never had children.”
Dad understood before I did.
Vincent continued.
“If you’re willing, I’d like to be part of your life.”
I blinked.
“As what?”
He looked toward the lighthouse birthday card on the wall.
“Family.”
I looked at Dad.
He smiled.
Mom nodded.
I looked back at Vincent.
“You can start by not having armed men stand in our flower beds.”
May you like
Vincent laughed.
“Deal.”
