••••
Eli
••••
Ariadne freezes at my words, her eyes widening in shock and, instantly, regret floods through me like a tidal wave. This is not how I meant to tell her. It slipped out before I could stop it, and now the damage is done.
“What?” Her voice is barely a whisper, but I know she heard me. So I reach out to hold her, apologizing. “I didn’t mean for it to come out this way, baby. I’m sorry,” I say softly, but she won’t let me finish and pulls away from me with a pained expression.
She says I have been gone for almost two years, a tear slipping from her eye while her eyes search mine. She’s not making any sense, as being away for almost two years makes no difference, but I know she’s reeling from shock. So I don’t question it, but I assure her that the children are mine.
“They
