The next morning, I met Luna’s mother, Penelope, and we arranged a playdate for the kids.
“Luna talks about Luke all the time, Amy,” she said. “It’ll be great for them to spend time together outside of school.”
On the day Luna and Penelope arrived, Luke and I baked fresh cookies, and he tidied up his room.
“What’s going on?” Jeff asked. “Are we having guests?”
Although I’d wanted to tell him about Luna the day after Luke showed me the class photo, something inside me held me back. I couldn’t quite understand why my instincts were telling me Jeff was involved. But if I’m honest, I think I just needed to see his reaction when Luna and her mother walked through the door. That would tell me everything.
When the doorbell rang, Luke sprinted to open it, and Jeff and I followed closely behind.
Jeff’s reaction upon seeing the little girl was one of pure guilt. The color drained from his face as Luna ran towards him with outstretched arms.
“Daddy!” she cried, hugging Jeff around the neck.
“I told you she was my sister!” Luke shouted, grabbing my hand excitedly.
I looked at Penelope, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and something else.
The room seemed to spin around me.
Jeff told the kids to help themselves to the cookies and play outside, saying the adults needed to talk.
The truth came out soon after, in a confession that felt like a dagger to my heart.
“It was a long time ago, Amy,” he said. “Right before we found out you were pregnant with Luke.”
As if that made it any better? I thought to myself.
Jeff’s one – night stand, a secret daughter, years of lies – it all came tumbling out in a flood of empty – sounding apologies that were far too late.
Penelope didn’t say much. She just fidgeted with the bangles on her wrist as Jeff confessed.
“So, you knew?” I asked her. “All this time, you knew?”
“I had to meet her,” Jeff said. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“I told Jeff to keep it a secret,” Penelope said. “I didn’t mind raising Luna as a single mother. My family was always there to support me.”