The Truth
I turned back to Lily.
“Come home.”
She looked down at Noah.
“I didn’t think you’d want me to.”
“Why’d you think that?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because that night we argued. You said women in our family finish school first, and we don’t throw our futures away.”
I remembered every word.
“Lily…”
“I was pregnant,” she said quietly. “I found out a few days before that argument.”
The realization struck me like a wave.
“You left because you were scared?”
She nodded.
“I thought you’d be disappointed and kick me out.”
“Oh, honey,” I whispered. “I would never.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I didn’t want to ruin your plans for me.”
I took her hands.
“Lily, you are my plan. Come home. Both of you.”
She looked at Noah.
Then her face softened.
“Okay.”
Ethan smiled for the first time all day.
“Good. Let’s get out of here.”
