Dressed in fitted black pants and a white blouse, she looks younger than her age, maybe early forties. Until now, I’d almost forgotten that she was so young when she had me.

She sets her phone down, and then says, “Lark, it’s . . . it’s such a pleasure to see you again.” Though she makes it sound like we’ve met more recently, I don’t consider that to be accurate since I was a toddler. But I do find relief from her appearing as nervous as I am. Signaling to the chair across from her, she smiles. “Please. Sit.”

Pulling the seat out, I sit down and hang my purse from the top of the chair. We sit across from each other a moment before she says, “Thank you for coming. I didn’t think you would.”

“I didn’t know if I would. Not until a few hours ago.”

She swallows, and it makes me self-conscious when I do. I take the glass of water already on the table and sip. She asks, “Would you like a drink? I’m having wine, hoping to settle my nerves.” She laughs anxiously.

Call me soft, but my heart feels for her and me trying to reconnect after a horrible situation. “It’s nice to see you, too. Why did you . . . why now?”

“My parents passed away a few years ago, and I realized that life is too short to not be there for those you love.”

The shock of learning that both my grandparents have passed away, that they’re gone without the option of ever having a reunion is disconcerting. I take the napkin from the table and twist it in my lap. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I’m sorry for yours,” she replies. Leaning forward, she says, “They had a lot of regrets.”

“Most people do on their deathbeds.” I don’t mean to sound cold, but I’m more confused than ever as to why I’m here. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s understandable. That’s why I waited to reach out to you. It’s hard to empathize with someone when they’ve been hurt by you.”

I start to release and feel more myself. “It’s not hard. I’m a doctor. I do it every day.”

Her smile is tight, but she nods. She releases a long breath just as the server arrives to take our drink orders. I order wine, thinking she’s probably right. Maybe it will help me drop my guard so I can enjoy this meeting instead of it being a confrontation. But also because I keep thinking about how she confessed that she loves me, even if it was indirectly.

“I’m so proud of you, Lark. You’ve accomplished so much that I wonder if it would have been the same if I had been there.”

“We’ll never know, but I’m starting to realize that living in the past won’t move the needle forward. I have questions, and I’m hoping you’ll be willing to answer at least some of them. I’ll give you that same opportunity, and then when we leave, we can decide what happens from here. How does that sound?”