She held you for just a minute.
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For a long time, it was just you and me, and I worried every day that I wasn't doing it right.
Then Meredith walked into our lives. I wonder if you remember that first drawing you made for her. I hope so. She kept it in her purse for weeks. She still has it today.
If there ever comes a time when you feel caught between loving your first mom and loving Meredith, don't. Hearts don't split. They grow."
I took a deep breath. The next part was the hardest because it contained the truth about Dad's death.
I worried every day that I wasn't doing it right.
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"Lately, I've been working too much. You've noticed. You asked me last week why I'm always tired. That question has been sitting heavily on my chest."
I pressed my fingers to my lips, steadying myself before I read the next words.
"So tomorrow I'm leaving early. No excuses. We're making pancakes for dinner like we used to, and I'm letting you put too many chocolate chips in them.
I'm going to try harder to show up the way you deserve. And one day, when you're grown, I plan to give you a stack of letters — one for every stage of your life — so you'll never have to wonder how much you were loved."
Tomorrow I'm leaving early. No excuses.
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I broke down then. Meredith hurried toward me, but I held up my hand.
"Is it true?" I sobbed. "Was he driving home early because of me?"
Meredith pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit. I didn't.
"It rained heavily that day. The roads were slick. He called me from the office. He was so excited. He said, 'Don't tell her. I'm going to surprise her.'"
My stomach did a slow, painful flip.
