Chapter 17 - NOAH'S QUESTION
Anna did not tell Noah about the meeting.
He was three years old. He understood more than people expected, but he did not need to carry the weight of an adult's regret.
Still, children noticed changes.
That evening, Noah sat at the kitchen table with a picture book open in front of him.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is the tall man my daddy?”
Anna stopped cutting the strawberries.
She had hoped to have more time.
“Why do you ask?”
“He looked at me like he knew me.”
Anna sat beside him.
“His name is Vincent.”
“Is he my daddy?”
She took a breath.
“Yes.”
Noah considered that.
“Why doesn't he live here?”
Anna looked at the small dinosaur on his shirt.
“Because grown-ups sometimes make choices that hurt people. Your daddy made a very bad choice a long time ago.”
“Did he hurt you?”
Anna's throat tightened.
“Yes.”
Noah reached across the table and touched her hand.
“I'm sorry, Mommy.”
She pulled him into her arms.
“You never have to be sorry for anything. None of this is your fault.”
The next morning, Anna received a message from Vincent.
I understand you may not want me near him. I won't ask to meet him unless you believe it's right. I only want you to know that I am prepared to follow whatever boundaries you set.
Anna read it twice.
Then she showed it to Rachel.
“He sounds different,” Rachel said.
“Words are easy.”
“True.”
Anna looked toward Noah, who was stacking blocks on the living-room rug.
“I don't want him growing up wondering why his father never tried.”
“Then perhaps you can let him try. Carefully.”
Anna thought about it for the rest of the day.
That evening, she called Vincent.
“You can meet Noah.”
Vincent went silent.
“Thank you.”
“Not alone. Not at your house. Not with Sophia or your family. We'll meet at the park on Saturday. One hour.”
“I'll be there.”
“And Vincent?”
“Yes?”
“No promises you can't keep.”
“I understand.”
On Saturday, Vincent arrived ten minutes early.
He stood beside a bench, holding a small paper bag. When Anna and Noah approached, he lowered himself to one knee.
“Hello, Noah.”
Noah hid behind Anna's leg.
“Hi.”
“I brought something. Is that okay?”
Noah looked at his mother.
She nodded.
Vincent opened the bag. Inside was a small wooden dinosaur.
Noah's eyes widened.
“It's a triceratops.”
“I was told you like dinosaurs.”
“Who told you?”
Vincent glanced at Anna.
“Your mother.”
Noah accepted the toy.
“Thank you.”
Vincent smiled, but he did not reach for the child.
They walked around the park. Noah talked about dinosaurs, his favorite pancakes, and the little garden outside their apartment. Vincent listened to every word.
At the end of the hour, Noah tugged his mother's sleeve.
“Can he come again?”
Anna looked at Vincent.
He did not speak.
“We'll see,” she told Noah.
Vincent nodded.
May you like
“I'll wait.”
For the first time, Anna believed he might.
