I never told him the truth, but he must have suspected when I left town a few months later under the guise of caring for my mother in Maine. It was her idea to pretend she was sick, and Father went along. They wanted to protect my reputation, after all. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was to give you up. Mother and I found a private adoption agency and interviewed dozens of couples. Your parents seemed so perfect. How could I have known that your mother was unstable and would leave you when you were still so young? I’ve stayed in touch with your father your entire life, and it was my idea to bring you to Mayfield when he married Enid. My heart overflowed when you and Kate became so close, and you can’t imagine how many times I wanted to tell you. How often I wanted to gather you in my arms and tell you that you were mine. I convinced myself it was almost as good as the truth coming out. You moved in with us, and you were a daughter to us in everything but name. And I got to love you.

I know you’ll believe that I chose Kate over you after that terrible fight. But it wasn’t that simple. I know now that I should have come out with the truth then. But I told myself that by staying in touch with you over the years, I’d still get to be in your life without upending the lives of so many others who would be affected. And then you had your own family—Daniel and his parents, and I hoped, one day, children of your own. But now, finding out you’ve already lost a child, and can never have another because of that terrible accident, I can’t bear to think of you all alone. It’s time for the truth to come out. For you to come home and take your rightful place in this family—if you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Take your time. When you’re ready, call me, and we’ll arrange a time to meet and talk about this before I make it public. I know you will have so many questions. I’ll tell you everything then.

All my love,

Lily