Oh. He knew? “Off the drugs?” she asked, waiting for him to nod before continuing. “No. She’s not. She’s still doing drugs like she was back when she traded me for some dope.”

Her dad winced. “I’m sorry, honey. I never meant for you to find out like that. Your mom and I always planned to tell you when you were old enough to understand, but then she died and you were so young. After that, I didn’t have the heart to tell you.”

“It’s okay.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have kept this secret to yourself all these years. Why didn’t you tell me that you met your birth mother?”

“The same reason you didn’t tell me that she had abandoned her infant daughter for drugs. Because I didn’t want to hurt you. Like I said, I was afraid that you would think it had to do with you. Like maybe you weren’t enough of a parent for me. But that was never the case. I was just curious, that’s all. I think most adoptees would be. But knowing what I know now, I…wish I’d never looked for her. She never wanted me. I was nothing more than a burden to her.”

Fire blazed through her father’s eyes. “She said that to you?”

Preslee nodded as tears filled her vision. “Yes.”

Her dad shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t forgive that, Preslee. I refuse to offer my compassion and understanding to a woman who can say something so horrendous to her child, the daughter she was supposed to love and care for. What kind of mother would do something like that?”

“That woman wasn’t my mother.” She gazed up at her father and gave him a watery smile. “I had a mom. A great one. One who loved me with everything she had for the short time we were together. That’s who will be always in my heart as the only mother who ever mattered to me. I want to be the kind of person who can forgive the woman who gave birth to me for the things she’s done, but I…”

He placed his hand on top of hers. “You don’t have to forgive her, baby. She’s done enough to you already, but I want to ask one thing of you. I want you to remember that everyone has their demons, including your birth mother.”