My blood turned cold.
"What woman?"
"I didn't know her name."
"Did she speak to you?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
He was silent for several seconds.
Then whispered:
**"She said you were too frightened to jump from the swing, and I should give you a little push to prove you were brave."**
I felt the room spin.
"And you did?"
"Yes."
I could hear him crying.
"I thought it was a stupid prank. I didn't think you'd fall like that."
I closed my eyes.
"Did you recognize the woman?"
"No. Not at the time."
My heart hammered.
"And later?"
Nigel's voice broke.
"When I met your mother as an adult, I thought she looked familiar."
I couldn't breathe.
"Mom?"
He whispered, "Yes."
I covered my mouth.
"Nigel, did you ever ask her?"
"Once."
"What did she say?"
"She told me I was confusing her with someone else. She said we should concentrate on your future instead of dwelling on childhood memories."
