Chapter 12 - Ellie asks what “real father” means
This was the part money could not solve.
Ellie heard Sabine.
She remembered.
That night she asked:
“Are you not my real dad?”
I sat beside her.
There is no perfect script for that conversation.
So I told the truth.
“I am your dad.”
“But Sabine said—”
“She was talking about how Mommy and I got help having you.”
Ellie stared.
“What help?”
“We used a donor.”
“What’s donor?”
“A man gave cells that helped doctors create the pregnancy that became you.”
She thought for a long time.
“So he made me?”
“He helped provide part of the biology.”
“And you?”
“I chose you before you existed.”
Her eyes filled.
“Mom too?”
“Especially Mom.”
Then:
“Is his name Nathaniel?”
I hated that Sabine had forced the timing.
But now that Ellie knew the name, lying would make it worse.
“Yes.”
“Do I meet him?”
“Not today.”
“Ever?”
“If that’s something you want when the time is right, we’ll learn what options exist.”
She leaned against me.
Then whispered:
“You still Daddy.”
May you like
“Yes.”
That was the only answer I needed.
