The softness to Reagan’s voice hit Jill in her core, and she wondered if Reagan was missing her too. The thought brought a fresh round of tears and she didn’t care if any fell. She needed to show her emotions. Reagan needed to see that she could. She took a deep breath and leaned forward, folding her arms on the table. “I am so sorry that I missed the benefit. I knew how important that night was to you, and I know how important your dad was and the hole it created in your heart when he passed. It was idiotic of me to think that sending all that money with Ash was a good idea. It…it was a really shitty thing to do. I’m so used to being surrounded by people that solve their problems with money that I lost my head for a moment. And then when Harrison threatened my promotion, I panicked. I figured no matter what I chose, it would be wrong. But that’s not the case. I should have always chosen you. I always want to and will always choose you. If you’ll let me.”

Reagan slightly cocked her head to the side as if studying Jill. “Why now? What’s changed?”

“Believe it or not, I talked with my mother a couple nights ago.”

“Really? What did the lovely Maureen have to say?”

“She told me about my father. My biological father.”

“Holy shit. What about him?” Reagan sat up and extended her arms on the table as if she wanted to reach for Jill, but she pulled them back just as quickly and rested them in her lap.

Jill recounted the entire conversation she’d had with her mother on New Year’s Eve. When she got to the point in the story where she heard about her dad dying without knowing who she was, Reagan reached out and brushed her thumb over her knuckles. Jill finished the story and took a sip of water, trying to calm herself.

“Wow. That’s a lot to take in,” Reagan replied, squeezing Jill’s hand. “How are you feeling about all that?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t really know how I should feel. Everything with my dad…” Jill shook her head. “I think that will take a while to process.”

“Do you think you’ll ever want to learn more about him? Get in touch with his family? Anything like that?”

“I…I don’t know. The thought has definitely crossed my mind, but I don’t think I’m ready to think about what that might open up.”

“Maybe we could figure it out someday? Together?”

“Really?” Jill whispered.

“Yeah. I’ve been missing you so much. I shouldn’t even admit how many times I pulled up your last text just to look at it.”

“How many?” Jill asked, trying to hold back a grin.