Then I turned toward Sadie.
“And I think we should find out who Sebastian was.”
Ethan stiffened.
“No. I can’t do that to Dad.”
“This isn’t about replacing Levi. Lily will eventually have questions about where she comes from. She deserves truthful answers.”
Sadie remained silent.
Then she reached into her purse.
My eyes immediately recognized the worn envelope from the baby shower.
She placed it in Ethan’s hands.
**“I’ve carried this since before you were born. I always told myself I’d give it to you when you were ready to ask.”**
Ethan slowly opened it.
Inside was a faded photograph.
A young man was laughing, his head turned slightly away from the camera.
Behind his ear was a small triangular mark.
Exactly where Lily’s was.
Underneath the photograph was an address written carefully in blue ink.
Three weeks later, our kitchen table was covered with photographs, old papers, Lily’s baby monitor, and the contents of a shoebox Sadie had brought from her attic.
Ethan still struggled with the idea of searching.
“I feel like I’m betraying Dad.”
“You’re not replacing him.”
Eventually, Ethan called Levi.
I couldn’t hear what Levi said on the other end, but I watched the tension slowly disappear from my husband’s shoulders.
“Are you sure, Dad?”
