“You hid my letters.”
I stared at him.
“What letters?”
“I was trying.”
He wouldn’t look at me.
Cole handed me a folded page. Grandpa caught my wrist before I could open it.
“Don’t, Maisie.”
I looked down at his hand.
He released me.
The note was short.
He released me.
“Cole,
If you’re reading this, something happened before I could fix things myself. Our baby is healthy and growing stronger every day. My father may never forgive you, but he has no right to erase you.
Hannah.”
I read it twice, hoping the words would change.
They didn’t.
I looked at Cole. “Are you saying I’m your daughter?”
“I’m saying Hannah believed you were. I want proof too.”
“He has no right to erase you.”
Grandpa reached for my chair.
I slapped his hand away.
“Stop moving me whenever you don’t like what I’m asking.”
“We should talk at home, Maisie. Come, sweetheart.”
“No. You’ll explain things there, and I’ll have no way to know what’s missing.”
Cole nodded once. “She’s right.”
