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"Now you've found Tyler again…" Able says softly

"I've found Tyler, but nothing's changed He's not ready for this Finding out that he walked out onout his daughter was adopted and now calls anotherto do to him?"

The hall is silent Able and Greg sit in what I'ht has been lifted froe by e decision in isolation Now they know they're going to have to help me

"Where is she now?" Able asks eventually

"At kindergarten She won't be back until later"

He nods and then puts his arhand with HATE on the knuckles on esture Just care

"You should have told us," Greg murmurs eventually "Even if you felt like you couldn't tell Tyler, you should have told one of us You just left and didn't coh he's trying to soothe 's hands are about power and control They're about toughness and safety, not about tenderness The lump that burns in my throat comes from the realization that I've hurt him

I never iined that was a possibility

"I couldn't," I whisper, resting my hand over his "Your loyalties lie with Tyler, not with me This connection between us was all new I couldn't risk du into the midst of your lives, especially when Tyler was still so volatile"

"You could," Able says "We would have done our best to help you in whatever you decided"

"You would never have kept it a secret froh, would you? I couldn't have asked that of you"

"And noe know…" Greg looks back at the photo as though he needs to confirm that what he saw is real

"Now you know, Tyler will have to know too" Saying the words brings it all crashing down on me This isn't just about Tyler and me and our past, this is about Suzanne and her husband, and most importantly, it's about Sophie Little Sophie, who looks so much like her daddy that it's uncanny

"It'll be okay," Able is quick to say "Tyler's not as bad as you think He's gone to take care of his mom today"

"I never thought I'd see the day," Greg says, shaking his head