Karen froze, not knowing what to say.
"Mommy?"
Karen looked down at her daughter. She sat down on the edge of her bed, stroking Cailyn's hair.
"What are you talking about sweetie?"
"Uncle Stan's last name is Walker, too."
"Cailyn, Mommy has to get something from her room. But I'll be right back, okay? And then we'll talk?"
Cailyn nodded as Karen quickly walked into her bedroom. Pulling out her cell phone, Karen dialed Will, hoping he wasn't busy.
"Will Truman."
"Will, it's me. I need you to come to the manse. Cailyn just asked me why she and Stan have the same last name. I can't think of a way out of explaining this right now."
"Karen, calm down. I'll be there as soon as I can, but I think it's best to tell her."
"Alright, honey. See you soon."
She hung up the phone, then went over to her closet. Pulling down a cardboard box, Karen dug through several dozen pictures until she found the one she was looking for. Karen put the picture in her pocket and walked back into Cailyn's room.
"Cailyn, Daddy is on his way over. I have to tell you something, okay? Come closer." Karen said as she patted her lap.
She nodded and crawled into Karen's lap. "You know how your friend Laura has two daddies?"
"She has a real daddy and a step-daddy." Cailyn answered.
"That's right. Well, honey, you do know that Mommy and Daddy aren't married, right? Well, Daddy is Mommy's best friend. And we've known each other since before you were born."
"Uh-huh." Cailyn said, trying to follow her mother's story.
Karen could tell that Cailyn was getting confused, and tried to make the explanation simpler. "Okay, um…Daddy is like Laura's stepdaddy."
"Oh. But what about Uncle Stan."
Karen pulled the picture out of her pocket. Showing it to her daughter, she watched her eyes widen in understanding. It was Karen and Stan's wedding photo. "This is Mommy and that's Uncle Stan. We used to be married a long time ago."
"Uncle Stan is my real daddy?" Cailyn asked. Will had just arrived and was standing outside the door to Cailyn's room listening.
Karen nodded and put the picture down. Cailyn was silent for several moments before speaking. "Can I still call Daddy, 'Daddy'?"
Will walked into the room and sat down next to Karen and Cailyn. "Sure you can."
Cailyn looked up at Will, then crawled over to him, giving him a hug. "Hi, Daddy."
"Sweetie, you do understand all of this, right?" Karen asked.
"You know that all this means is that you have two daddies who love you." Will added.
Cailyn nodded and sat on Will's lap, deep in thought.
"Cailyn, honey? Whatcha thinkin'?"
Cailyn looked at Will. "If Uncle Stan is my real daddy, then why do I call you Daddy?"
