Bryce teased me about how early I left, but I hadn’t changed in the last twenty-five years since we’d been married. When I had a date to see my oldest baby at school, nothing was keeping me from it. Not even that God-awful traffic I had to drive through to get to him.

William Michaels Chase was the first love of my life. I loved my husband so much, but the moment I held William in my arms, I knew the trouble I had gone through to get him was well worth it. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if I had to.

He was working on his master’s degree, so he didn’t come home often. I rarely got to see him during football season, so I was a little surprised he called and asked me to come up. I was even more surprised he asked me to come alone. Bryce was worried something was wrong, but William assured his father everything was good. He just needed to see his mom.

I parked the car at the pizza place we agreed to meet and walked through crowds of students. I preferred to meet further away from campus, but he was convincing when he said we could spend more time together if he was closer to school. It made sense. It just wouldn’t be very private. He said nothing was wrong, but part of me was worried for the unexpected date.

The pizza place was busy, but not as busy as the street trying to get there. It was easy to spot William studying in the corner. I smiled as I watched the lines on his forehead increase as his concentration did. He was always my bookworm. My other two children did well in school, but they didn’t enjoy it as much as William did.

Jillian had just graduated over the summer and had started an entry-level job at an accounting firm closer to home. I was hopeful she’d come back after college and save some money, but she wanted that independence. Dillon had two years of college left. He preferred to work with his hands and planned to go straight into construction after high school. Bryce, being the teacher he was, talked him into going to business school so he could own his own construction company some day. He wanted all of his children to have an education. I just wanted them to be happy.

I sat down and placed my wallet on the table. He didn’t even look up when he spoke. “That seat is taken.”

“I was hoping it was mine.”

His face lit up as he stood and came over to give me a big bear hug. “Mom.” I got teary-eyed every time I saw him after some time apart. He used to hate affection in public, but lately it seemed he’d grown enough to understand I loved him too much to be apart that long, so I was taking my hugs wherever I could get them.

He pulled the napkins on the table closer to me when he let me go and stood. “Here. I figured you’d need something. I should’ve brought some tissues. Let me grab you a drink and I’ll be right back.”

I dabbed my eyes so it wouldn’t affect my makeup and cleared my throat to try to get my emotions under control. There was a time I went months without seeing the outside world. I knew William was safe and sound at school, but I didn’t like being away from him so long.

He came back with a couple of glasses of soda and set one in front of me. “I’m so glad you could make it. I know times are busy for your boutique.”

I waved him off and took a sip. “I’m still open. Tracy took over for today.” He knew it was busy with fall formals coming up, but I had every faith that Tracy and her friend Megan could handle it. Even if they couldn’t, seeing my boy would win over selling a few dresses every day.

“Tell me what did you need to see your mother for?” I put my hand on his. “Is everything okay? Really okay?”

He covered mine with his other and squeezed. “I’m good, Mom. I promise.”

“Okay. So, tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I had an interesting class and wanted to talk about it.” He took his hands back and wiped them on his jeans.

I laced my fingers together and laid my hands in front of me on the table. “How so?” He was nervous. I wasn’t sure what he was nervous about if it was just because of a class.

He rubbed the back of his neck and gave an awkward smile. “Maybe the public setting wasn’t the best place for this.” He took a deep breath and leaned forward on the table.

I reached across and cupped his face. “I’m your mother. You can tell me anything. We have no secrets from each other, and I’ll never judge anything you say.”

“That’s just it, Mom. You do have a secret. A big secret.” He held my hand to his face when I started to pull away and brought it down to his other hand on the table. It seemed he was worried I was going to leave without hearing him out. There was only one secret I had that would’ve been big enough to make me leave, but I was determined to hear him out. “I know what your father put you through.”

I looked into his eyes to see what he was talking about. I was sure he’d never find out. The other kids, too. Bryce and I never spoke about it in front of them and rarely in private. It was a long time ago and nothing I wanted to relive. There was no need to discuss it.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about. My father has never been a part of your life.”

“He died in prison.”

I never told them their grandfather was in prison. Whenever the children asked about my parents, I told them my mother died when I was young and my father hadn’t been with us since before they were born. I never said he died, but if that were what they chose to believe at the time, then I wouldn’t correct it.

I detested that man. I had nothing to do with him the moment I was free of him. He tried to ruin my life and had ruined Bryce’s for a little while. We were stronger without him and that was how I’d plan to keep it.

When he passed in prison, I didn’t claim him. I did my duty as a daughter and silently paid for the plot and burial but had no funeral. There were no tears of sadness for the man who was lost. There were tears of relief that he wouldn’t get out and come find me. I didn’t even bring him home to me. I kept him as close to the prison as I could.

I wasn’t sure what William knew or why he was bringing it up. I needed to make sure he didn’t tell anyone else. “Whatever you think you know, it isn’t to be repeated to anyone else. Is that understood?”

He nodded and looked down at my hand he was still holding. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m nervous. I’m not sure what you want.”

“I don’t want anything.” He looked at me. “I’ve known since computer science in high school.”

“What?” I shook my head. “What do you think you’ve known?”

He looked around before leaning on the table more and whispering. He didn’t want anyone to overhear him. “I know your father had you kidnapped and you spent four months locked away with a stranger somewhere.”

“Three months.” I leaned on my other elbow since he wasn’t letting go of my hand and rubbed my forehead. “I was only with that man for three months.”

“I didn’t go looking for information, Mom. We were bored with the Internet up in front of us while Mr. Lupus was having a bad reaction to something he ate for lunch. Everyone started searching stupid stuff, and I was trying to impress a girl.

“She had a wedding to go to and couldn’t find a dress. I was too nervous about the girl to remember your website, so I searched your name to find it. I found a lot more than your boutique.” He let go of my hand and took a drink.

“You took that class when you were a freshman. You’ve known all this time?”

He nodded and looked around again.

“Why didn’t you ask about it before?”

William would only glance at me. He couldn’t maintain eye contact for very long and the last couple of glances looked as if his eyes were misting up. He cleared his throat. “It happened less than a year before I was born. I didn’t want some answers.”

I got up and made him scoot over on his side of the booth so I could sit closer to him. “You are your father’s child. I promise you and can show you the test if you want. You are one hundred percent a Chase.”

“Then why is my middle name Michaels?”

“I admit that we weren’t sure at first. Your father never questioned his love for you. Even if you weren’t his by flesh and blood, you were still his son.” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. “I wish you would’ve asked a long time ago. I wish this could’ve been settled in your mind.”

I pulled back and held his face. “I don’t ever want you to hide things from me again like this. Don’t bottle this up. I need you to promise me you’ll talk to me, baby.”

He nodded before he turned back to the table. “I really am Dad’s kid?” He glanced at me. “There’s no doubt?”

I placed my hand on his forearm. “I promise you with everything I have that you are Bryce’s child. I have the proof at home. I’ll send you a copy.”

“I believe you, but I’d like that. I’d like to see it in print. I need that validation.”

I placed my hand on the side of his face and pulled his cheek down for a kiss. “As soon as I get home.” I moved back to the other side of the booth and took a drink.

“Can you tell me about it?”

It was my turn to glance at him. “There isn’t much to tell.”

He scooted to the middle of the seat again and sat closer to the table. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not in the way you’re probably worried about. It hurt to be away from your father all that time. It hurt to not know what was happening to me or what was going to happen to me, but no, he didn’t hurt me or force me to do anything.”

“Other than kidnap you.”

I smirked at his sarcasm. “Right. Other than that.”

“They didn’t have much in the papers when I tried to follow the news story about it. They had your dad plastered all over, but nothing about the perpetrator.”

I was quiet when I repeated the word, “Perpetrator.”

“Did he go to prison, too? Are you afraid of seeing him again?”

“I’m not afraid of him.” I looked at William. “Promise you won’t share this with your father?”

He nodded but looked concerned.

“I wonder how he is.”

He sat back and narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“You don’t understand. He wasn’t a bad guy. He treated me well, considering what was happening. It was a rough start, but when I stopped fighting him—”

“Mom, I think he brainwashed you.”

“William, he did no such thing. He saved my life. Your father’s, too.”