Adrian leaned toward me and murmured, “We found her last night.”
I stared at him.
Grandma pressed a hand to her mouth.
Lily stopped in front of Valerie.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Lily said, “You told me my father was dead.”
Dad stood.
Lily looked at him.
Her face crumpled.
“You’re Jack?”
Dad nodded once.
Lily laughed, but it came out like pain.
“My whole life, I thought I was unwanted by a ghost.”
Valerie stepped toward her.
“Lily, I can explain.”
Lily stepped back.
“No. You can’t. Because I read the letters.”
Valerie froze.
“What letters?”
Lily reached into her bag and pulled out a packet.
“Sarah’s letters.”
Dad’s head snapped up.
I stopped breathing.
Lily looked at me.
“You’re Chloe.”
I nodded because I couldn’t speak.
Her eyes softened.
“She wrote to my adoptive parents every year. Birthday cards. Updates. She said she wasn’t allowed to contact me directly because the adoption was closed, but she wanted them to know I had family if I ever wanted it.”
Grandma began to cry.
Lily turned to Valerie.
“You told me Sarah stole my father from you.”
Valerie’s lips trembled.
“She did.”
“No,” Lily said. “Sarah tried to find me.”
Valerie shook her head.
“No.”
Lily held up a letter.