I froze in the doorway. Brian hurried in behind me and nearly dropped the grocery bag in his hands. Neither of us spoke. The man remained perfectly still, his shoulders relaxed, as though he had been waiting for us. Mom stood at the counter slicing carrots with mechanical precision. She didn\u2019t turn around when I called her name. \u201cMom?\u201d My voice sounded strangely small in the quiet kitchen. She stopped cutting and slowly placed the knife on the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you listen?\u201d she whispered. Brian looked at me, confused. \u201cListen to what?\u201d Before Mom could answer, the man at the table slowly turned around. My heart nearly stopped. He had Dad\u2019s eyes, Dad\u2019s smile, and the same silver streak running through his dark hair. For one impossible second, I thought I was looking at my father. But Dad had been buried three years ago.<\/p>\n
Brian stumbled backward. \u201cWho the hell are you?\u201d The man said nothing. He simply looked at us with an expression filled with sadness. Mom wiped her trembling hands on a towel and finally faced us. Her eyes were red, as though she had been crying for hours. \u201cHis name is James,\u201d she said softly.<\/p>\n
The name meant nothing to us. We had never heard it before. \u201cJames who?\u201d I asked. Mom looked at the stranger, then at the two of us. \u201cJames was someone I knew long before your father.\u201d She swallowed hard. \u201cSomeone I thought I would never see again.\u201d Brian\u2019s face tightened. \u201cMom, what are you talking about?\u201d She looked down at the floor. Then James finally spoke. \u201cI think it\u2019s time you knew the truth about your father\u2026 and me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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