Mac forced his attention from her back to the letter, hating the pain it was causing her. “I want you to know the funds for the children were not done to assuage my guilt, which is not insignificant, but rather to perhaps make life a bit easier for my grandchildren than it was for my children. That’s all. I promise the money is given with no strings attached.

“I also promise that you’ll not hear from me again, unless you wish to. I’ve enclosed my address and phone number, and my door is always open to you and your sister as well as your families. If I had my life to do over again, I never would’ve left. I shall always regret that and the pain I caused you. With all my love and best wishes, your dad, Bobby Chester.”

Mac folded up the letter and put it back in the envelope. “Are you okay, honey?”

Even though she nodded, tears slid down her cheeks, breaking his heart. “I wasn’t expecting him to say all that.”

“It must be nice to hear how he feels after all this time, to know he regrets what he did.”

“I guess. It doesn’t change anything, though.”

“Maybe not,” Mac said, choosing his words carefully, “but at least he owns it.”

“Yeah. There is that.”

“Come here, baby.” He held out his arms to her and waited for her to settle into his embrace before closing his arms around her. Brushing the hair off her face, he kissed her forehead and then her lips. “What can I do for you?”

She slid an arm around his waist. “This is good. Really good.”

“Will you respond to him?”

“I was just thinking about that. I should thank him for the money, I suppose, but how do I address the thank-you note? Do I say, ‘Dear Dad’ or ‘Dear Bobby’ or ‘Dear Mr. Chester’?”

Mac couldn’t imagine what it might be like to not know how to address his own father. “I suppose you could call him whatever feels comfortable for you.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“You can think about it for a few days and see what seems right.”

She shifted in his arms, raising her head to press her lips to his. “I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight.”

“Oh no? What do you want to think about?”

Her smile lit up her caramel-colored eyes. “What do you think? It’s been a while.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No need to be sorry, but I’m all for you making it up to me.”