This has been a lot. I know. But I had to make sure you understood that you come from an unusual, brief love that ended in tragedy before it ever even had a chance to understand what it fully was. Never doubt it was love. Never doubt that whatever really happened on the mountain that night, Tommy would never hurt Mr. Miller. Every single part of me, every instinct, knows that the Calhouns had something—maybe everything—to do with it all.

I made my choice not to let the injustice consume me. Somehow I found the strength to not only continue but to live a life. I hope you find your own strength in that.

Grow up knowledgeable, but choose the path that is uniquely yours. Uncertainty is normal. Keep going. Eventually, it will start to take shape. It will feel right. You will know. And every time you need me, remember: I’m always here. In the air and the river, in all of nature. But mainly in you. We are the same. All three of us. Don’t worry, I’m here. Cheering you on. Your father is here too.

Love,

Mom

Claudine

Claudine thought it might just be Captain Tiggleman’s poor vision in the dim candlelight, but he was right. There was an extra gift on the table.

“Jules!” she seethed.

“No way,” Jules said. “That’s not possible. We had fifteen. Then Steve made it sixteen. I counted like five times.”

“Miscount!” Jerry yelled. “I guess we have to start again. I’ll have to part with my Bootsy Bellows gift certificate.”

“We’ll have to start again,” Kevin said.

Claudine felt twitchy. She, too, had counted the gifts. She didn’t trust Jules to be the final say on anything. To get the count correct. There had been sixteen. Then she read the poem and they started. Everyone was there. No one else had arrived.

Confused whispers swirled around the room. Laughter, shouts of “Let’s draw straws to see who gets the last gift!” Everyone was drunk. What was she missing? It was as she made her third scan around the room that it hit her.

Why hadn’t she seriously considered this earlier?

Yes. Of course.

She found him instantly and they locked eyes across the room. The rest of them oblivious, the unofficial post-gift swap already starting. The look on his face was all the confirmation she needed. He had his jacket on. His hood was up. He had been waiting for her to understand, it had only been a matter of time.

Paces behind, she followed him out of the living room, down the hall, and into the kitchen. Getting her own jacket from the closet along the way. She entered the kitchen just as the handsome young man slid open the door to the deck and slipped through, leaving it ajar.