Chapter 13: The Child He Loved

“I don’t know if you hate me. My mother says you do. I don’t believe her, but I don’t know how to reach you otherwise.”

“Oh no,” I whispered. “No, no, no.”

Leo moved closer.

“What is it?”

“He thought I hated him.”

Gwen’s breath shook.

“That’s what our mother told him. She didn’t just lie, Heather. She stole eighteen years from all of you.”

I opened the third letter so fast I almost tore it.

“If it’s a boy, I hope he laughs like you do when you’re really happy.”

My hand flew to my mouth.

Leo stared at the page.

“He wrote that?”

I nodded and handed him one of the birthday cards.

“Read it.”

He opened it carefully.

Inside was Andrew’s handwriting.

“To my child,

I don’t know if you’ll ever see this. But if your mom tells you I loved her, believe that with your whole heart.” Continue Reading ⬇️