“What … ” I look from the girl to Alie. I can’t seem to form words.
Alie clears her throat.
“This is Seraphina,” she says softly with a smile. “Sera.”
I can’t stop looking between them, trying to put the pieces together.
The little girl grins. “Hi!” With her chubby fists in the air, she looks at Alie and asks, “Who dis, Mommy?”
Mommy?
I stare at Sera because something about her hits me like a punch in the chest. Not because she’s here. Not just that she’s adorable. It’s the way her eyes look … familiar.
My stomach drops, and I turn to look at Alie.
She won’t meet my eyes.
Suddenly, the air in the room shifts, and I think I might just pass out.
“How old is she?” I ask slowly, my voice gravelly.
Alie scrunches her brows and looks at me like I’ve done something wrong by asking.
“She’ll be two in September.” She crosses her arms and glares at me.
Two. My brain does the math before I’m ready. Then the room tilts.
I can’t stop the sharp, disbelieving laugh that slips out. “Alie.”
She closes her eyes briefly, like she’s trying to school her emotions. Then she takes a deep breath.
“Liam, before you say anything else, we need to talk privately. Not in front of her.”
My heart is pounding in my ears.
“Is she … ” I swallow, forcing out the words. “Is she mine?”
Alie’s silence is answer enough, and she still looks … angry.
Everything inside me detonates, and I drop my bag and have to take a step back, bracing myself against the wall.
I look at Alie. “You—” I run my hand through my hair, trying to catch my breath, trying to think. “You didn’t tell me.”
Sera looks between Alie and me, sensing the shift in the room. “Mommy?”
Alie immediately moves to comfort her, running her hand over her wavy brown hair. “Hey, baby. Why don’t we take your coloring books into Poppy’s office for a while, and you can color with him?”
Sera nods happily. “Yes, Poppy color too.”
Alie glances at me as she opens the door. “I’ll be right back.”
Silence crashes down on me, and my gaze hasn’t left the door.
She comes back into the room only seconds later, closing the door behind her.
“You didn’t tell me.” My voice is quiet, but no doubt she can tell that I’m upset.
“Excuse me?” She crosses her arms defensively. “I tried?—”
