Page 18 of Ten Years Later
“Do you know your real parents' names?”
“Dana Zielchrist is my mom’s name. I don’t know who my dad is. Mia told me they had a one night stand and that Dana never got his name.”
“I’m surprised she told you that.”
“I’m fourteen. I know what a one night stand is.”
“Fair enough.”
“Want to see a picture?”
Surprised, he nodded.
Emily finished her cereal. She placed her bowl in the sink and walked from the kitchen. “Be right back.”
Keaton washed his remaining breakfast down the disposal. Emily returned with a yearbook. She opened it to a page already marked with a Post-it note. “This is her high school picture.”
Keaton studied the black and white photo of a girl with straw straight hair, acne, a round face, and an indifferent look. “No other photos?”
“Nope.”
“You don’t look anything like her,” he said.
“I know. I guess I favor my father, whoever he is.”
“Did Mia tell you anything about Dana?”
“Just that she lived in a group home because she was a foster kid.”
This felt a little too convenient—Mia explaining away Emily’s existence with a dead mother, no father, and no family due to being a system kid.
The front door opened and Mia stepped in. She took one look at Keaton and Emily standing in the kitchen and froze.
“Y-you remember Zane?” Emily asked. “He’s doing a job in the area. A mural. He stopped in to say hi.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing in my home?” Mia demanded.
Keaton walked from the kitchen toward her. She backed up and out of the house, coming to stand on the covered entryway to her home.
“Mom. Please chill.” Emily raced over. “He’s a nice man.”
“Get out of my house.” She glared.
“Yes, of course,” Keaton quickly replied, hurrying past her.
Several paces down the driveway, he turned to look at her. “I apologize. It’s exactly as Emily said. I’m doing a mural in the area. I saw Emily and stopped to say hi. I’ll leave.” He hurried the rest of the way to his truck still parked at the curb.
A block away, he chanced a glance in the rearview, seeing Mia still outside, staring at his truck with Emily beside her.
He’d likely get blowback for this, but he did not care. He’d found his daughter.
12 /CURRENT DAY
Mia staredat Zane’s truck as he drove away, notingBrothers’ Paintingon the side.
After he rounded the block, Mia turned on Emily. “Are you insane? Why did you let him in our home?”
“I’m sorry.” Emily teared up. “Please don’t be mad.”
