Read Chapter 16: — THE PHOTOGRAPH

He waited three days.

Then he could not wait any longer.

Daniel called Maggie from a quiet corner outside the accommodation block and held the old photograph up to the camera.

“Who is he?”

Maggie went still.

“Where did you find that?”

“In your scanned photos.”

“You shouldn’t—”

“Mum.”

Her eyes filled.

Daniel’s stomach dropped.

“It’s Graham Bennett, isn’t it?”

She covered her mouth.

Daniel closed his eyes.

The story came slowly.

Maggie had met Graham when they were young. He was already a civil engineer, already addicted to difficult projects and already convinced that public infrastructure justified almost any personal sacrifice.

They married.

For years his assignments kept him away. When Maggie became pregnant, he promised to return for the birth.

He did not.

He returned years later carrying a toddler—Maya—whose parents had died on a project. He had made decisions quickly, assuming Maggie would understand once he explained.

But he disappeared again into work before properly explaining anything.

Maggie found Maya’s name added to the household paperwork. Neighbours talked. Exhaustion and resentment did the rest.

“I thought he had another family,” she said. “By the time the truth became clear, we had said things we couldn’t take back.”

“Why did you tell me he died?”

“I told you your father was gone. Later you understood it as dead, and I… I let you.”

Daniel stood in the dark with the phone in his hand.

“You let me believe that for thirty years.”

“I was angry. Then I was ashamed. Then too much time had passed.”

He wanted to shout.

He did not.

That frightened Maggie more.

“Daniel?”

“I need time.”

He ended the call.

For the first time since arriving in Almar, he did not go back to work.