JENNIE

"That's impossible."

I stand but quickly sit back down on the bench when the grass underneath me seems to sway unsteadily. The park is filling with people now. Families with small children, balloons and presents in their arms despite the cold weather.

"It's true, Lisa is Christian's daughter," Kimberly says, her blue eyes bright and focused.

"But Marco . . . Lisa looks just like him." I remember the first time I met Marco Manoban, inside a yogurt shop. I immediately knew he was Lisa's father; his dark hair and his height brought me to the easy conclusion.

"Does he? I don't really see it, except the hair color. Lisa has the same eyes as Christian, the same facial structure."

Does he? I struggle to picture the three faces. Christian and Lisa has the same eyes . . . but it just doesn't make sense: Marco Manoban is Lisa's father—he has to be. Christian looks so young compared to Marco.

I know they're the same age, but Marco's alcoholism took its toll on his appearance. He's still a handsome man, but you can see where the liquor has aged him.

"This is . . ." I struggle for words and air.

Kimberly looks at me apologetically. "I know. I've wanted to tell you so bad. I hated keeping this from you, but it wasn't my place." She puts her hand on mine and squeezes gently. "Christian assured me that as soon as Chit gave him permission, he would tell Lisa."

"I just . . ." I take a deep breath. "That's what Christian is doing? Telling Lisa now?" I stand up again and Kimberly's hand drops away. "I have to go to her. She is going to—" I can't even begin to fathom how Lisa will react to the news, especially after finding Chit and Christian together last night. This will be too much for her.

"He is." Kim sighs. "Chit hasn't agreed fully, but Christian said she was close enough and things were getting out of hand."

As I pull out my phone, my only thought is that I can't believe Chit would hide this from Lisa. I had thought more of her, much more as a mother, and now I feel as if I've never met the woman.

My phone is already pressed to my cheek, Lisa's line ringing in my ear, when Kimberly says, "I told Christian that he shouldn't separate you two when he told Lisa, but Chit recommended that if he does it, he needed to do it alone . . ." Kimberly's mouth presses into a hard line, and she looks around the park, then up at the sky.

I reach the dull tone of the automated system on Lisa's voicemail. I dial again while Kimberly sits silently, only to get her voicemail for the second time. I shove my phone into my back pocket and start wringing my hands. "Can you take me to her, Kimberly? Please?"

"Yes. Of course." She jumps to her feet, calling for Smith.

Watching the little kid walk toward us with what I can only call a cartoon butler's stride, it occurs to me that Smith is Christian's son . . . and Lisa's brother. Lisa has a little brother. And then I think about Jisoo . . . what does it mean for Jisoo and Lisa? Will Lisa want anything to do with her now that she doesn't have a real family tie to her?

And Karen, what about sweet Karen and her baked goods? Marco—what about the man who tries so hard to make up for the terrible childhood of a girl who isn't his daughter. Does Marco know? My head is spinning, and I need to see Lisa. I need to make sure that she knows I am here for her, and we will figure this out together. I can't imagine how she feels right now; she must be so overwhelmed.

"Does Smith know?" I ask.

After a few beats of silence, Kimberly says, "We thought he did because of the way he is with Lisa, but he couldn't possibly."

I feel for Kimberly. She already had to deal with her fiancé's infidelity, and now this. When Smith gets to us, he stops and gives us a mysterious look, as if knowing exactly what we've been talking about. That's not possible, but the way he leaves ahead of us and goes to the car without saying a word, it does make me wonder.

As we drive through Thailand to find Lisa and her father, the panic in my chest rises and falls, rises and falls.