“If you ever feel torn between loving your first mom and loving Meredith, don’t. Love doesn’t divide the heart. It expands it.”
I paused and took a breath. The next lines were the hardest—the ones that changed everything I thought I knew.
“Lately I’ve been working too much. You noticed. You asked me why I’m always tired. That question hasn’t left my mind.”
My voice trembled as I continued.
“So tomorrow I’m leaving work early. No excuses. We’re making pancakes for dinner like we used to, and I’m letting you add too many chocolate chips.”
“I’m going to do better at showing up for you. And one day, when you’re grown, I plan to give you a stack of letters—one for every stage of your life—so you’ll never question how deeply you were loved.”
That’s when I broke down.
Meredith stepped toward me, but I raised my hand to stop her.
“Is it true?” I cried. “Was he coming home early because of me?”
She pulled out a chair, silently offering it. I stayed standing.
“It poured that day,” she said softly. “The roads were dangerous. He called me from the office. He was so happy. He said, ‘Don’t tell her. I’m going to surprise her.’”
My stomach twisted painfully.