My ex-husband called my pregnancy a lie, walked away, and spent eight years pretending I had invented a child to keep him. So when he invited me to his family’s Christmas dinner, I accepted. He expected me to come alone. But when four little boys crossed that snowy field beside me, he finally saw the truth pride had kept him from asking.

That question hit harder than it should have.

The invitation did not mention the boys.

Of course it didn’t.

Ethan did not know they existed.

Or did not believe they could.

“No.”

I answered carefully.

“He doesn’t know about you.”

Lucas stared at me.

“You said you told him.”

“I did.”

“Then how doesn’t he know?”

Because telling someone something is not the same as being believed.

I closed the laptop.

“That’s complicated.”

Lucas crossed his arms.

“You always say complicated when adults did something stupid.”

I almost laughed.

“That is disturbingly accurate.”

He smiled.

Then became serious again.

“Does he think you lied?”

I looked at my son.

His gray eyes were exactly Ethan’s.

So was the tiny crease between his eyebrows.

“Yes.”

Lucas thought about that.