"I couldn't believe my eyes," he said, his gaze distracted, as if he were reliving that moment. "I was working late in my office, and I had the TV on. I was waiting to hear the sports scores, and there was a news clip about Miguel Rodriguez having a heart attack, and there she was. I thought I was dreaming. I watched that clip a thousand times. I had to find out for sure. So instead of going to Portland for business, I came to San Francisco."

"When did you get here?"

"Tuesday night. I went to her school on Wednesday and caught her when she was going to lunch. She was smiling, laughing with someone, and then she turned around and saw me, and her smile vanished. I thought she might run away. But she didn't. She walked over to me and told me to meet her at a coffee place nearby. Then she got in her car and drove away. I ran to my rental car, thinking I was going to lose her again. But she went where she said she was going to go. We sat down at an outside table and stared at each other. I didn't know what to say."

"What did she say?" I prodded as he once again got lost in his thoughts.

"She told me she was sorry, that she did it to protect me and you and Dani. She'd gotten into some trouble that she couldn't get out of unless she faked her death. She wouldn't give me any details."

"And she couldn't at any point in the last twenty years tell us the truth?"

"I asked her the same thing. She said it wasn't safe. That she knew I'd do a good job raising you and your sister, and it was the only comfort she allowed herself."

"The only comfort?" I questioned. "She made another life for herself, one with friends, coworkers, a job, a house. It's not like she's been in jail all this time. She's been living life."

"I know. It's unthinkable. It's unforgivable. I told her that she'd betrayed me. That I hated her. She leaned in and said she was sorry again, and I saw red. I slapped her. I'd never ever hit a woman before. I was stunned. A couple at the next table came over to ask if she was all right. They said they were calling the police. She told them not to, and then she got up and walked away. I went in the other direction. I didn't want those people to think I was following her." He took a ragged breath. "I shouldn't have hit her, but I never felt so angry in my life. I couldn't see straight. I got drunk that night and slept most of the next day. Then I heard there had been a shooting and I saw her picture on the news again."

"I thought I saw you at her school on Friday."