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Erica,

Wasn’t as hard as I thought Daniel Fitzgerald, Class of 1992, Econoerald Boston"

Sid

I opened a new tab and typed in the search The first result showed attorney biographies at a law firm where his name was listed first as a partner The second result was an official website for Daniel Fitzgerald’s run for governor of Massachusetts, featuring a stylish red, white, and blue logo and a catchy caed version of the man in the photo Oh God I scrairl," she answered happily

"Daniel Fitzgerald," I said

"What?"

"That’s the ned than surprised

"I know Mom didn’t tell me for a reason, but I need to know"

"Erica, I--"

"Marie, I have a right to know You were her best friend If anyone would knohostretch before speaking "Yes"

"Yes, what?"

"He’s your father"

"Oh, God" My face dropped intoI’d had my suspicions, of course, but I half expected her to say no To lie or to tellso far-fetched Now, faced with the truth, I didn’t knohat to feel

I’d spent norant to the other half of ins But had I ever truly accepted it? By the tih to really de that no one could ever hope to fill that place in my heart, I never bothered to seriously wonder who he could be

Now, I had a thousand questions and no answers Did he even know I existed? Did he love ht?" Marie interrupted overnor?" The one thing I did know about hi that could keep us apart I had no idea how I’d get through the layers of people that surrounded him for a chance to know hi to be easy connecting with him," I said

"Just be careful, honey"

"What do youinto with hi?"

"You’re a suard down," she said quietly

"Okay"

I hung up with Marie and collectedI knew the man on the other side Not the lawyer or the politician, but the man

I clicked around and learned as much as I could about hiet awith him I couldn’t simply walk into his office and announce myself The idea of Blake as a connection crossed my mind, but I squashed that idea I didn’t want to associate hih my phone and called Alli We still hadn’t spoken, and I was shocked when she picked up

"I’ve been trying to reach you," I said, trying not to sound as concerned as I was