Chapter 6 - THE QUESTION MATEO ASKED FIRST
Elena insisted the children not meet Alex immediately.
Alex agreed.
Not happily.
But completely.
For six weeks, he worked with a child psychologist chosen by Elena.
He learned something humiliating.
He kept asking, “When can I see them?”
The psychologist kept asking back:
“What will seeing you do for them?”
That question changed everything.
Eventually, Elena told the quadruplets.
Not the whole history.
Just enough.
Their biological father had recently learned important information.
He wanted to meet them.
He had made mistakes.
Other adults had too.
Two days later, Elena called.
“They want a video first.”
Alex recorded twelve.
The first sounded like a deposition.
The second sounded like an apology to a jury.
The fifth made him cry.
The twelfth was simple.
“Hi. My name is Alex. Your mom says you already know who I am. I should have known about you years ago, but I didn't. I made mistakes before you were born, and some adults made choices afterward that kept us apart. I hope, if you want to, I can get to know you slowly.”
He sent it.
Three hours later, Elena texted four questions.
Sofia:
Do you like pancakes?
Grace:
Do you have a dog?
Lucas:
Are you actually rich?
Mateo:
Why did you leave Mom?
Alex read the last one repeatedly.
Elena called.
“You don't have to answer Mateo today.”
“Yes, I do.”
“You need to answer age-appropriately.”
“I know.”
Alex recorded another video.
“Mateo, I left your mom because I was afraid. I cared more about what I thought my future should look like than about the person I loved. That was wrong. Your mom did nothing to deserve it.”
Elena watched before sending.
For the first time, she cried in front of him.
“You didn't blame Beatrice.”
“No.”
“She deserves blame.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“Because Mateo asked why I left you.”
Elena stared.
“And that part was me.”
She sent the video.
Three weeks later, the meeting happened at a children's science museum.
Sofia asked about pancakes immediately.
Lucas inspected Alex’s watch.
Grace stared at his eyes.
Mateo remained near Elena.
Alex did not force anything.
An hour later, Mateo finally approached.
He touched the dimple in his own cheek.
Then pointed at Alex’s.
“We match.”
Alex smiled.
“We do.”
Mateo didn't smile back.
Instead he asked:
“If Grandma Beatrice lied, why didn't you ever look for us?”
The room went silent.
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Because Beatrice’s deception explained why Alex did not know.
It did not explain why, in nearly six years, he never once looked back closely enough to discover what happened to Elena.
