I picked up the box. It was light, but something inside shifted.
Watson stepped into the hallway and read the words.
“Happy Birthday, Brothers.”
“Maybe one of the boys ordered something.”
“No,” I said. “I’m taking it to our room. I don’t want them opening some cruel joke in front of everyone.”
His face changed. He understood.
I closed our bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed. For a minute, I stared at the box.
Then I opened it.
On top was a folded note.
His face changed.
“Dawn,
Please don’t show this to anyone until you finish reading.
Don’t trust Grandma.”
I stopped breathing.
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Under the note was a hospital bracelet.
It was tiny and yellowed at the edges.
“Don’t trust Grandma.”
The printed name was Rowan.
Behind it was a photo of a young man near a lake.
He had Riley’s mouth, Rex’s height, Watson’s jaw, and my eyes.
I made a sound I’d never heard come out of me.
Watson knocked. “Dawn?”
I couldn’t answer him.
I made a sound I’d never heard come out of me.
“Dawn, open the door.”
I unlocked it with shaking fingers.
He stepped in and saw the box on the bed.
I held up the bracelet. “It says Rowan.”
Watson went white.
“It says Rowan.”
His eyes moved to the photo, and he sat down hard beside me.
“No.”
I handed him the letter.
“Read it.”
He shook his head.
“Watson. Read it.”
His voice broke on the first line.
He shook his head.
“My name is Rowan. I was told you loved my brothers but couldn’t love all three of us.”
Watson covered his mouth.
I took the letter back and forced myself to continue.
“I didn’t believe that at first.
Then I found papers with your signatures. I don’t know if you gave me away or if someone made that choice for you. But I need the truth before I spend the rest of my life hating the wrong person.
I found your address in a locked folder my adoptive parents kept with my bracelet, placement papers, and your signed forms.”
“I didn’t believe that at first.”
I looked at Watson.
“I didn’t give him away.”
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