But Lily was insistent. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mix of fear and certainty that chilled me to the core. “Mom,” she pleaded, “I’ve seen pictures. He had that mark. Exactly like that.”

I cradled the baby, who was now making small, unhappy noises, sensing the tension in the room. My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. “Lily, I don’t understand. Your father—” I hesitated, feeling a pang of old grief, “He’s gone.”

Lily nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I know, but—” She looked between me and Jason, desperate for us to understand. “I just know, okay? That mark… it’s the same.”

Jason ran a hand through his hair, visibly trying to compose himself. “Lily,” he said, gentler now, “sometimes people have similar birthmarks. It doesn’t mean—”

But she shook her head. “I know it, Dad! It’s the same. I feel it.”

The baby in my arms whimpered, and I instinctively rocked him, but my mind was spinning. Could it be a coincidence? A trick of an overactive imagination? Or was there something more, something inexplicable at play?

A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by Lily’s quiet sobs. Jason and I exchanged a glance, a thousand unspoken questions passing between us. We both knew this wasn’t something we could ignore.

“I think,” I said slowly, trying to sound more confident than I felt, “we need to talk about this. Properly. But not here.”

Jason nodded, relief touching his features. “Yes. Emma’s right. We’ll figure this out together. As a family.”

The nurse cleared her throat softly, sensing our decision. “Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked gently.

I shook my head. “No, thank you. I think we just need some time.”

She gave a sympathetic nod and quietly exited the room, leaving us to navigate this unexpected storm alone.

Gently, I reached for Lily, pulling her close with one arm while still holding the baby. Her small body shook against mine, and I tried to pour all the love and reassurance I could muster into that embrace.

“We’ll make sense of this, sweetheart,” I murmured into her hair. “I promise.”

Jason stepped closer, wrapping his arms around us both, and for a moment, we just stood there, a tangled knot of uncertainty and resolve.

Whatever this was, whatever it meant, we would face it together. Together, we would find the truth hidden beneath the shadows of the past and the mystery of the present.