Jacob was right about everything.

I’d simply been too blinded with emotion to look at anything from a viewpoint other than my own, but he’d opened my eyes and shown me the light. I knew what I had to do now. I had to talk to my parents and actually listen this time, instead of shrilly arguing with them and making unfounded accusations about them being horrible people for never letting me know my real father. From what they’d said, my biological father wasn’t worth knowing, and maybe that was okay. Maybe families didn’t have to be dictated entirely by genes and biology. It could be about the people who chose to accept you and love you whether or not you ‘belonged’ to them in a genetic sense.

I trudged back toward my childhood home with Jacob, Oscar padding behind us. My parents were waiting out on the side porch—Jacob had texted them to let them know to stop looking for me. Their faces were drawn and etched with guilt as we approached. I gave them a weak smile. “Can we go back inside?”

We all sat back down in the living room a moment later, except for Jacob, who took Oscar out into another room to give my family some privacy. Mom sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She was starting to get a couple of greys, but as she looked over at me, she looked young, vulnerable.

Her hazel eyes fixed on me. “I’m so sorry, Nora. Please believe me. We only wanted the best for you,” she said, her voice weary.

“I know.”

“It wasn’t easy keeping something this big from you all these years. Perhaps it’s a good thing that it’s finally all come out now,” she murmured. She looked down, then back up and across the room, not at the row of photos above the mantel, but into the past.

Dad put his hand on her shoulder and rubbed it for a second. Then he moved over next to me. “I’m sorry too, Nora. But no matter how long you stay mad at me for, I’m still your dad. And you’re my daughter, whether you like it or not,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion.

“I do like it,” I said, my own voice cracking. “I know you’re my dad, and I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

I cried then, for longer than I cared to admit, and when I was done and my eyes were dry, we talked. I heard in great detail about everything my parents hid from me over the years, how hard it was, how many times they’d thought about telling me. How many times they’d been terrified that I’d inadvertently find out their secret from a simple doctor’s visit, just like I had today. They’d been waiting for things to come crashing down for a long time now, but neither of them had really been ready for it to happen. And how could anyone ever be ready for such a momentous thing?

We talked for what felt like a hundred hours, although it was only two. I realized I hadn’t done something like this in years. I spoke to Mom on the phone regularly to hear all her neighborhood gossip, and I visited every few months, of course, but it was always for casual catching up and general conversation over lunch and whatever game was on TV. We never really talked, not like this.

When all the serious stuff was out of the way and it felt like we were all tapped out, I gave my parents a watery smile. “In the name of being honest about everything tonight, I should probably admit something to you. I kept something from you last time I was here. I outright lied, actually.”

“What is it?” Mom asked, her forehead lined with concern.

“Erm… well, Mom, you weren’t wrong about my boyfriend being an accountant whose name started with J. That was James. But we broke up, because he was a total asshole. An asshole who’s still harassing me, in fact. I was too embarrassed to admit it to you that morning when you called me, so I lied and said I had a boyfriend, and then I roped Jacob into pretending to be my boyfriend for the afternoon so I wouldn’t have to come clean. I’m sorry. I know it was wrong.”

Mom looked at me for a long moment. Then she looked at Dad. For a second I thought they were going to frown and chastise me for lying, but they burst out laughing instead. “We’ve still got it, Anne,” Dad said, holding out his palm toward her for a high five. “Still sharp.”

“Wait… what?” I said. “What’s happening here?”

Dad grinned. “We had a feeling you were trying to trick us. Your mother was certain that you’d told us your boyfriend was an accountant, and I was certain his name was James. So when you showed up with Jacob Archer, of all people, we were more than a little shocked. But we played along.”

My eyes widened. “You sneaky rats! Why did you ask us to stay the night if you knew?”

They looked embarrassed. “We were waiting for one of you to crack, to be honest,” Mom said. “But then neither of you did.”

“And I really liked Jacob, anyway,” Dad added. “The way he looked at you, and the way you two got along… I had a feeling it wouldn’t be too long till he was really yours. And look what’s happened. You two are together now, aren’t you?”

“I…”

“Yes, we are,” Jacob said from the doorway before I could finish my sentence. He’d just walked in with the dog, and my heart leapt at his words. “And I’m sorry I helped Nora out with her scheming last time I was here. I felt bad for lying, really.”

“Get us tickets to the premiere for your movie when it comes out, and all will be forgiven,” Dad said.

“Done.”

“Speaking of that movie, we have to work on it tomorrow,” I said. “And it’s getting late. We should really head off. And don’t worry, it’s not raining, so we’re safe to drive. No need to trick us into staying over again.”

My mom and dad both wrapped their arms around me for a long time before we left. “Thank you for trying to understand everything,” Mom murmured. “We’re so lucky you’re our daughter.”

I gave her a tight smile. “Well, it’s still going to take a while to let it all sink in, but we’re okay, Mom. I forgive you. And Dad. You know that.”

“And you know that I’ll be down in the city in a flash if this ex of yours keeps harassing you,” Dad said.

I smiled. “I know. But it’s okay. The police are on the case, and I’m staying at Jacob’s till it all blows over. I’m safe.”

After saying our goodbyes, we got into the car with Oscar. I leaned over and kissed Jacob on the cheek. “Thanks for being here with me tonight,” I said. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Of course. Now let’s get you and this golden boy home,” he replied, gesturing to Oscar. He was curled up on the back seat, already snoring.

“Yes,” I said. Then I sat up straighter. “Wait, you don’t mean my house, do you?”

“Course not. I meant my place,” he replied. “Used to just feel like a house to me, y’know. But as long as you’re there, it’s feeling more and more like home.”

My cheeks glowed with warmth. “Really?”

“This is awkward. I was actually talking to the dog.”

I giggled and poked him in the arm. “Shush,” I said. Then my face turned serious. “Did you really mean that, though?” I added shyly. “About it feeling like home with me there?”

He looked over at me and winked. “Hell yeah.”