She looked confused.
"Stacey?"
My hands began trembling.
The boy in the photograph had grown into a man.
A man who helped me carry bags of soil.
Who watered the seedlings when I was exhausted.
Who brought coffee every morning without being asked.
My assistant.
Ben.
I stared at the photograph.
"Oh, my God."
Avery leaned closer.
"What?"
I could barely speak.
"Ben."
She frowned.
"Your employee?"
I nodded.
My heart thundered.
"Nina's little brother is Ben."
***
I called the nursery immediately.
Ben answered on the third ring.
"Morning, Stacey."
His familiar voice made my chest ache.
"Ben, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
I swallowed.
"What's your last name?"
A long silence followed.
Then he whispered, "Why?"
My stomach tightened.
"Ben."
He took a shaky breath.
"Price."
I covered my mouth.
For months, he'd introduced himself simply as Ben.
I never asked about his family.
He rarely talked about his childhood.
