Chapter Five
EVELYN
He said everyone would soon forget about the whole case.
And I hoped that "soon" would come as quickly as possible. Because when we returned to the hotel lobby that afternoon, the journalists were still lying in wait. They swarmed us the moment we appeared, peppering us with questions.
"My office has already released a statement regarding the situation.
So, if you'll excuse us, we are here to participate in a medical event.
No further questions, please," was all Logan said, clearing a path as I followed closely behind, holding both girls' hands.
We made our way into the attached hotel ballroom where the conference was being held.
"What a boring place..." Anna whined. "I want to go home..."
I looked at her, my heart aching for them. They were so little, caught in this completely surreal situation. And all they wanted was to go home.
Did they even understand that they had a new home now?
I wondered if Logan fully grasped it yet, either. He seemed so laser-focused on his dream job that I got the impression he hadn't stopped to process his new reality as a father.
I spotted a food court area and had an idea. "How about the three of us go get some ice cream while your dad does what he needs to at this... boring event?"
Anna just shrugged, looking thoroughly unimpressed. Aurora didn't even glance my way. Logan stopped walking and turned toward us.
"But I need a Spanish translator. I'll probably receive compliments from doctors from other countries after my presentation."
"Have it your way. But you needed a mother for your daughters more urgently, didn't you? I can't be in two places at once."
"Why not?"
"Don't you think this event is a bit boring for two five-year-olds?"
"Not at all. This could be very exciting for them. It could open their horizons to a potential future in medicine."
"They're five. Their biggest horizon right now is choosing an ice cream flavor."
He sighed, finally defeated. "Okay... fine. But you remember the story, right? In case someone stops you and asks..."
"I know..." Anna said wearily. She pointed at me. "She's our mother."
"Very well." Logan looked at the other girl. "And you, Aurora? Do you understand?"
Aurora continued to wander, looking curiously around the room while completely ignoring her father. He still insisted, "Aurora?"
"She already understands, too," Anna declared. She let go of my hand, went over to her sister, and took hers. The two of them started walking ahead of me toward the food court. They seemed incredibly close, with Anna acting very protective of her sister.
I followed them, leaving Logan behind. When we reached an ice cream stand, Anna chose flavors for both of them, and the three of us found a table to sit down.
"So..." I began, trying to get a better sense of their situation. "Who brought you to the hotel? Was it your mother?"
Anna shook her head. "It was Uncle George."
"Uncle George?" I asked. "Is he your mother's brother?"
She just shrugged, as if the relation didn't matter. "It's Uncle George," she repeated, as if that explained everything.
"I see. And... you must be missing your mother, right?"
"Mommy said we have to be brave. And not cry."
"But crying is important. When we're sad, or scared, or even angry—"
"We are brave."
"But who said brave people don't cry? Even superheroes cry sometimes."
"Superheroes aren't real. Neither are fairies. Or monsters. Or Santa Claus."
"Was it your mother who told you that?"
"No. It was Grandma. Mom was mad at her, especially about the Santa Claus part. Rory and I wrote him letters, but Grandma said it was silly because Santa Claus isn't real. Rory cried, and Mom was upset with Grandma."
Apparently, the family environment they came from wasn't exactly the healthiest. Well, at least I understood that part, since I had an extremely toxic mother myself.
“Well, I think all those things can exist in a way, if we believe in them…” I said. “What do you think, Rory?”
Aurora continued to concentrate on her ice cream, giving no indication she had heard me. Anna nudged her, and only then did she look up at me. I repeated the question softly:
“What do you think? Can superheroes and fairies exist?”
Aurora’s eyes immediately flicked toward her sister, a silent question passing between them. And in that moment, I finally understood the situation.
Amid the surprise of the realization, I felt a fresh wave of anger toward Logan.
He’d been with these children since the night before. How could he not have realized it yet?
*****
About four hours later, Logan finally found us in the food court.
A small playground was tucked into the corner, and that’s where the girls were, their little faces lit up with smiles as they played on the seesaw.
It was a relief to see them finally able to relax, even for a moment, amidst the chaos their lives had become.
Apparently, they weren't the only ones. Logan was smiling, too—a sight that, under any other circumstances, would have made me admire his devastating good looks even more. A smile truly transformed him.
But right now, I was too furious to care.
Still, I let him have his moment. "My presentation was a success," he announced, his voice buoyant.
"The senior partners from New York Center Hospital were there. They congratulated me afterward. They’d heard about the twins, of course, but it didn't seem to be an issue.
They made it clear they want me on their team.
We've been invited to dinner with them tonight. This is it. This is my opportunity."
"'We’ve been invited?"
"You're here as my companion, aren't you? As the mother of my daughters."
His daughters.
And he still, incredibly, didn't seem to grasp the full weight of what that meant.
"What did you talk to them about?" I asked.
"What?"
"With Anna and Rory. They got here last night. I assume you've talked to them, right? Explained that you're their father... everything..."
"They apparently already know. Anna called me 'Daddy' from the start. Ironic, of course. She seems to have quite a temper for someone so small."
"So, you've noticed one thing about them."
"Evelyn... what are you getting at?"
"And Aurora? Have you managed to talk to her?"
"Well... she doesn't seem very talkative."
"Did you try?"
"I haven't had the time or the mental space for it yet, Evelyn."
"You said Eleanor sent a folder with all their documents, school and medical records, right? Did you look at any of it?"
"Okay... where exactly is this going?"
"I think I'll let you figure that out for yourself."
His eyes darted from me to the girls, who were still giggling on the playground, then back to me. He shook his head slightly, as if physically brushing off a thought.
"I have to attend a lecture that starts in five minutes. Dinner is at seven, at a restaurant nearby."
"We'll be ready at seven. We'll meet you in your room. I'll take the girls upstairs as soon as they get tired of playing."
"Okay. I'll see you all later, then."
And with that, he walked away.
None of this was my business. He was their father; I was just the hired help, there to nod and play a part for two days. Then I would walk away, a million dollars richer, and focus on rebuilding my own life.
At least, that’s how it was supposed to be.
But I just couldn't make myself not care.