Jack had discovered the connection much later.
“Did he find Daniel?”
Mrs. Bennett looked down.
“He tried.”
“What happened?”
“Daniel had already passed away.”
I thought about Ethan.
“Then Ethan…”
“Ethan was Daniel’s son.”
Everything suddenly made sense.
Jack hadn’t been hiding another relationship from me.
He had been searching for a piece of his own family history.
He had discovered that the brother he never knew existed had left behind a child. Instead of walking away, Jack had decided to help Ethan and learn what he could about the boy’s circumstances.
That was why Mara had been helping him.
That was why there were documents on his computer.
That was why he had created plans for Ethan’s future.
And that was why he had never wanted me to feel pressured into taking responsibility for something I hadn’t chosen.
Later that evening, Mara came to see me again.
