Chapter 3
Jenna was conscious by morning.
Ryan met her with Allison and a hospital social worker present.
Jenna stared at him for several seconds.
“You really didn’t know.”
“No.”
She looked away.
“I spent five years hating you.”
Ryan accepted that.
“Why did Sadie come to my house?”
Jenna’s expression tightened.
“I called Claire.”
“Why?”
“She was the only Carter contact I had ever had.”
Jenna’s car accident had left her with a fractured pelvis and a concussion.
Doctors expected recovery.
But she could not care for Sadie immediately.
Her sister lived in Canada and needed several days to travel.
Jenna called Claire from the emergency department.
“I asked her to bring Sadie to you.”
Ryan felt anger rise again.
“What did she say?”
“That she would.”
“Then?”
“She picked Sadie up from my neighbor.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
Claire had voluntarily brought the child into their house.
Then hidden her.
“Did you tell Sadie who I was?”
“Yes.”
“Why now?”
“Because I thought she was finally meeting you.”
Jenna’s eyes filled.
“She’s been asking for years.”
Ryan looked away.
He needed a moment.
Allison asked:
“Did Mrs. Carter ever tell you why Ryan supposedly wanted secrecy?”
Jenna gave a bitter laugh.
“His reputation. His career. His marriage. Take your pick.”
“Did you ever speak with Ryan directly?”
“No.”
“Try?”
“Dozens of times.”
Ryan turned back.
“Where?”
“Your office.”
“My personal email?”
“Messages bounced.”
“My phone?”
“Someone changed the number I had.”
Ryan had not changed his number in twelve years.
Allison wrote that down.
Then Jenna said something unexpected.
“Three months ago Claire changed the payments.”
Ryan looked at her.
“How?”
“They stopped.”
“Did she explain?”
“She said the support arrangement was being reviewed.”
“Why?”
“She said Sadie was becoming old enough that legal paperwork had to be updated.”
Allison’s eyes sharpened.
“What paperwork?”
Jenna reached toward a bedside drawer.
Inside was a document Claire had emailed her.
A proposed acknowledgment of private support.
It stated that Ryan had known about Sadie since birth.
That he had voluntarily funded her.
That Jenna agreed Ryan had chosen no parental role.
Ryan stared at it.
“Did you sign?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because by then I didn’t believe Claire anymore.”
Jenna had planned to hire an attorney.
Then the accident happened.
May you like
Claire arrived to collect Sadie before that lawyer could contact Ryan.
The timing stopped looking accidental.
