Tonight it sounded like defense.
“Our daughter?”
She stared.
“You want to correct pronouns right now?”
“No.”
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“I’m trying to explain.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
The immediate admission stopped her.
He continued.
“I did.”
Renee stared.
“Last Sunday.”
“Yes.”
“Basketball shoes.”
“We bought the shoes.”
“That is not an answer.”
“We met Lauren after.”
Renee pressed both hands over her mouth.
Marcus moved closer.
She pointed.
“Stay there.”
He stopped.
“Does Zoe know?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“About two months.”
Renee looked toward the stairs.
Her daughter had known for two months.
Marcus had known.
Lauren had known.
Renee had been the only person inside her own home who did not.
“How?”
Marcus took a breath.
“Zoe found her.”
Renee shook her head.
“No.”
“She did.”
“How?”
“The adoption file.”
“What adoption file?”
“The blue folder.”
Renee stared.
“That is locked in our closet.”
“It wasn't locked.”
“Yes, it was.”
“The small safe was open after we pulled passports for the cruise.”
Renee remembered.
June.
Passports.
The safe door had stayed open overnight because Marcus was looking for Caleb’s Social Security card.
She closed it the next morning.
Apparently not before Zoe went inside.
Marcus continued.
“She found Lauren’s full name.”
Renee looked toward the stairs again.
“Then what?”
“She searched.”
“Online?”
“Yes.”
“At fourteen.”
“She found a public professional page.”
Renee squeezed her eyes shut.
Lauren Miles.
What had Zoe seen?
Photographs?
A husband?
Children?
Another life?
Marcus continued carefully.
“She didn't message her right away.”
“How would you know?”
“Because she came to me.”
There.
Another cut.
“Not me.”
Marcus looked down.
“No.”
“Why?”
He did not answer quickly enough.
Renee’s voice dropped.
“Why did our daughter come to you?”
“She was scared.”
“Of what?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Of hurting you.”
Renee stopped.
Not anger now.
Something worse.
“She said that?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“Renee.”
“Exactly.”
Marcus sat in the chair opposite the desk.
He looked suddenly exhausted.
“She asked whether wanting to know Lauren meant she loved you less.”
Renee stared.
Marcus continued.