“The boy was you.”
He said nothing.
“Wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
I felt as though someone had opened a hidden door in our family history.
“Clara’s father saved your life.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I thought Mom and Dad remembered his name.”
“They probably do. But they didn’t know Clara was his daughter.”
Ethan walked toward the window.
Fog covered the harbor below.
“Is this why you’re marrying her?”
“No.”
“Then what is the connection?”
“He operated on me.”
“That is not all.”
Ethan stayed silent.
“Did you meet Clara before her father died?”
“Yes.”
“How long had you known her?”
“Not well.”
“Did Dr. Vale ask you to take care of her?”
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered.
“Natalie.”
“He did.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“You promised a dying man that you would care for his daughter.”
“I promised to make sure she had support.”
“And now you are marrying her.”
“Those are not the same thing.”
“They look exactly the same.”
Ethan turned toward me.
“Clara is not a debt.”
“Then why can’t you tell her everything?”
“She knows her father helped me.”
“She doesn’t know how much.”
“It is complicated.”
“No. You are making it complicated.”
My voice rose.
“She loves you, Ethan. She thinks you chose her. What if you are only trying to repay her father?”
