"Did?"
Nathan looked over.
She corrected herself.
"I love you."
"Enough to lie to me for nine years."
Claire looked down.
"I told myself knowing wouldn't help anyone."
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"Convenient."
"I know."
"No, I don't think you do."
He turned.
"You made a decision for me every single day."
Claire cried harder.
"Every birthday."
"Every Christmas."
"Every time I signed a school form where it said father."
Nathan's voice rose.
"You decided I didn't deserve to know what my own family was."
Claire stood.
"I was terrified."
"So was I overseas."
"I know."
"But fear doesn't excuse everything."
"No."
Claire wiped her face.
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
"I've told you."
"All of it?"
She froze.
Nathan saw it.
His stomach dropped again.
"Claire."
She looked away.
"What else?"
Nothing.
Nathan stepped toward her.
"What else?"
Claire whispered, "Matt knew there was a chance."
Nathan went still.
"What?"
"He knew I was pregnant before he deployed."
Nathan stared.
"He knew?"
"Not that Eli was his."
"But he knew he might be."
"Yes."
Nathan laughed in disbelief.
"Did he say anything?"
"He wanted a test."
Nathan's face changed.
"What?"
"After Eli was born."
"And?"
"I refused."
Nathan stared at her as if seeing a stranger.
"Why?"
"Because you were home."
"That's your answer?"
"You were holding him."
Claire's voice broke.
"You loved him before we even left the hospital."
Nathan shook his head.
"And Matt?"
"He told me if I was sure I wanted you to be Eli's father, he'd stay away."
Nathan's breathing became heavy.
"How noble of both of you."
"Nathan—"
"So he knew I might be raising his son."
"Yes."
"And still looked me in the eye?"
Claire cried.
"Once."
Nathan suddenly remembered.
A barbecue.
Eight years earlier.
Matt had returned from leave.
He came to the house.
Held baby Eli.
Nathan remembered joking:
Careful, Reeves. You're going to scare him.
Matt had stared at the baby longer than expected.
Nathan had forgotten.
Now the memory felt contaminated.
"He held him."
Claire whispered, "Yes."
Nathan closed his eyes.
"He knew."
"He suspected."
"Same difference."
Nathan left the kitchen.
Claire followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Hotel."
"No."
He turned.
"Don't tell me no."
"This is your house."
"I don't know what this is."
"Nathan."
"I need one night where nobody in this house explains what's best for me."
Claire stopped.
He grabbed his duffel bag.
Before leaving, he walked upstairs.
Eli was awake.
The boy immediately sat up.
"You're leaving."
Nathan sat on the edge of the bed.
"Just tonight."
Eli's eyes filled.
"Because of me?"
Nathan felt sick.
"No."
"Because Matt was my real dad?"
Nathan froze.