By the fourth, the letters changed.
Less certainty.
More despair.
Dear Sophie,
I am told your father still refuses contact. If that is true, I have to respect his choice because he is the person keeping you safe.
But I hope one day you ask a difficult question about me.
I hope someone gives you an honest answer.
Jack dropped into the chair.
Elena looked away.
He opened the seventh.
Written only months earlier.
Dear Sophie,
You are seven today.
I learned yesterday that your father never refused my letters.
I do not know how to explain the amount of grief inside that sentence.
Jack stopped breathing.
He looked up.
“When did you learn?”
“Four months ago.”
Not nineteen months.
Four.
She continued.
“Keane’s storage unit was searched. They found copies of your missing-person reports.”
Her voice broke.
“And my letters.”
Jack looked at the stack.
“He kept them?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Insurance. Evidence. Maybe trophies.”
Jack’s jaw tightened.
Elena continued.
“They also found messages he sent to Rourke confirming I remained isolated from you.”
Jack stood.
“Where is he?”
“In federal custody.”
“Good.”
He had never wanted to hurt a stranger more.
Elena reached toward the letters.
Jack pulled them slightly back.
Not to keep them from her.
Instinct.
She noticed.
He noticed too.
Both said nothing.
The interior door opened.
Sophie stood there.
Jack immediately wiped his face.
Too late.
She had seen.
“Dad?”
“Hey.”
Her eyes moved to the letters.
Then Elena.
“Are you fighting?”
Jack looked at Elena.
She waited for him.
That mattered.
He crouched before Sophie.
“We’re talking.”
“About me?”
“Some.”
“About her?”
“Yes.”
Sophie looked at Elena.
“Are you really my mom?”
Elena’s lips trembled.
“Yes.”
Sophie processed it.
“Did you leave?”
Elena looked at Jack.
He nodded once.
Permission.
Elena crouched several feet away.
Not close enough to invade.
“No.”
Sophie frowned.
“But Dad said you left.”
Jack felt guilt.
Elena answered carefully.
“Your dad told you what he believed was true.”
“Was he wrong?”
“Yes.”
Sophie looked at Jack.
He nodded.
“I was.”
Children disliked uncertainty.
Sophie’s face tightened.
“Then where were you?”
Elena swallowed.
“I was somewhere I couldn’t come home from.”
“Like jail?”
Jack almost laughed despite everything.
Elena smiled through tears.
“Not exactly.”
“Were you bad?”
“No.”
“Was Dad bad?”
“No.”
Sophie thought.
“Was somebody bad?”
Jack and Elena looked at each other.