He shook his head. “No, Caleb. That’s the condition. I’ll provide for her. But you can never tell her who I am. I lost that right the moment I kicked my own daughter out.”
Just then, Ashley stepped into the hallway. Richard went pale. I moved quickly. “Ash, go get dressed, okay? I’ll make breakfast.”
“Okay, Dad.” The bathroom door clicked shut.
I pushed the briefcase back toward him. “I can’t take this. Not like this. Not now.”
He nodded. “Okay. But I’ll leave it here. Just think about it.” Then he handed me a yellowed envelope.
On the front, in Hannah’s handwriting, was Richard’s name. “She wrote to me,” he whispered. “I never opened it. Cowardice is a heavy thing.”
Ashley padded in, hair damp, smelling of lavender soap. “Who was at the door?”
“Just someone who needed help, bug,” I said, tears stinging my eyes.
