Evan stood.
Rebecca stopped twenty feet away.
He looked at her.
His face broke.
“Rebecca?”
She hated how her name sounded in his voice.
Like he had practiced.
Like it mattered.
“Yes.”
Evan did not move closer.
Good.
Rebecca looked at Cole.
Cole’s eyes filled.
Evan saw him.
“Cole?”
Cole laughed and cried at the same time.
“You remember me?”
Evan touched his forehead.
“Pieces.”
“Your face younger.”
“Your voice.”
Cole crossed the distance.
Then stopped.
“Can I?”
Evan nodded.
They embraced.
Rebecca looked away.
The reunion belonged to them too.
Afterward, Evan sat again.
Rebecca remained standing.
He looked at her.
“I don't know what to say.”
“That makes two of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rebecca’s face hardened.
“For what?”
Evan stopped.
“Exactly.”
“You didn't know.”
“No.”
“You didn't choose.”
“No.”
“Then don't apologize like you abandoned me.”
Evan swallowed.
“Okay.”
Rebecca sat across from him.
“Do you remember me?”
His eyes filled.
“Not like I should.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Evan looked down.
“I remember yellow.”
Rebecca froze.
“What?”
“Yellow balloons.”
“Someone crying in a kitchen.”
“A baby laughing when a motorcycle started.”
“I don't know if those are real.”
Rebecca’s throat tightened.
“They are.”
Evan looked up.
“How do you know?”
“Your notebook.”
“Tapes.”
“Pictures.”
Evan covered his mouth.
Rebecca took out the old photograph.
She slid it across the table.
Evan stared.
His younger self holding baby Rebecca.
Claire beside him.
His hands shook.
“Claire?”
Rebecca’s face changed.
“She died.”
Evan closed his eyes.
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
He bent forward.
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Then Evan whispered:
“Was she okay?”
Rebecca almost laughed from the impossibility of the question.
“No.”
“She was angry a lot.”
“Tired.”
“Scared.”
“She told me you left.”
Evan’s expression collapsed.
Rebecca continued because truth mattered now.
“She hated you.”
“Maybe.”
“Or thought she did.”
“She never married.”
“She worked two jobs.”
“She loved me badly sometimes.”
“Good sometimes.”
“She lied.”
“She stayed.”
Evan cried quietly.
Rebecca looked toward the trees.
“I hated her after I found out.”
“Don't.”
Rebecca looked sharply at him.
“You don't get to tell me.”
“You're right.”
He corrected immediately.
“I just…”