Page 87 of Fool Me Twice

“Last night. You said… you told Georgia that I’m not your son.”

Pain gripped me. The way he said it, it made the situation sound like the worst one in the world.

“I thought you wanted me gone,” he said.

“No. Never. I would never want you gone.”

He looked like he didn’t believe it, and the realization that I was failing at this conversation hit hard.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you this before. It’s true. I am your uncle.”

Sebastián sniffled. “If you never wanted me, then why did you take me?”

My jaw dropped. I couldn’t understand what I might have said that could make him think such a thing.

“Sebastián, I do want you. I have always wanted you.”

He looked up, but there was still doubt in his eyes.

“I’m sorry if I ever made it seem like I didn’t.” I took his hand.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I heard you tell Melba that I can’t know where I’m from.”

Each confession, each tidbit of truth, was a blow to my senses and heart. I deserved them, though.

“I was afraid,” I admitted. “I thought that it would hurt you to find out, and I never wanted that. I wanted to protect you. That’s all I have ever wanted.”

His eyebrows knit together. “No. That’s not true.”

“I see that now. I made a mistake.” I squeezed my eyes shut, the hatred I held for myself reaching a new level.

“We all make mistakes,” Sebastián said. “It’s okay.”

I opened my eyes and took in his honest, accepting expression. Despite my screwup, this little boy still loved me.

I squeezed his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter that you weren’t born to me. I am your father at heart. I will always be your father, and I love you more than anything in this world.”

“I love you, too.”

I pulled him in for a hug, the kind that couldn’t last long enough. Eventually, though, I had to let him go.

“Why did you go to that overlook?” I asked.

His gaze shifted to just past me, and I turned to see Georgia standing with her fingers pressed to her mouth.

Sebastián shrugged.

“It’s okay.” I patted his shoulder. “You don’t need to tell us. I’m just glad you’re home. Let’s have some breakfast.”

The moment I stood, though, he started talking.

“I like that spot,” he said.

Georgia stepped forward. “Because that’s where we met?”

Sebastián slowly nodded and peeked up at her through his eyelashes. “If I had a mother, I would want her to be you.”

My breath hitched in my throat, and my vision warped. What felt like a lifetime’s worth of repressed emotions swirled through me. Tears, big and hot, ran down my cheeks.

---