Grandpa’s face went pale.
Just one name.
That was all it took.
He slowly sat down in the wicker chair, still holding Nora as though she were made of glass.
“Caleb,” he repeated.
Then, after a pause, he asked, “What’s his father’s name?”
My smile vanished.
“William.”
Grandpa closed his eyes.
“Grandpa, what’s going on?”
He pressed his lips against Nora’s forehead.
When he finally spoke, his voice sounded unsteady.
“I made a promise to your mother.”
I stared at him.
“What kind of promise?”
“That I would never tell you certain things about your childhood.”
My chest tightened.
“What things?”
He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t read.
“Your mother wanted you to grow up without that family in your life. After she died, I decided to honor what she wanted.”
“What family?”
Grandpa swallowed.
“Caleb’s.”
I lowered myself onto the porch step because suddenly I didn’t trust my legs.
