— Lisa… These children… they are… mine?

Tears welled up in the young woman’s eyes. She looked away, unable to respond. After a long silence, she whispered:
— You weren’t supposed to know. Your mother did everything to keep me away… She promised me she would destroy you if I spoke.

Jack froze. Memories came flooding back: his mother demanding he break up with “the maid’s daughter,” the dismissal letter, Lisa’s sudden exile. It all started to make sense.

— Why didn’t you write to me? he almost yelled.

Lisa pulled a crumpled envelope from her bag.

— I tried. Every letter I sent came back marked “unknown address.” And when I found out I was pregnant, it was too late.