Once he got to his truck, he sat inside for a few minutes, thumbing through the envelopes that had been in his post office box. As usual, most of it was junk mail. But he couldn’t help the sharp breath that escaped him when he came to the very last one. It was a large envelope…addressed from a federal prison in Oklahoma.
Jeremiah had heard that his ex-wife had been arrested last year by the FBI. She’d been caught smuggling stolen goods across state lines. Neither he nor his sons had followed her trial, but he’d heard she received a twenty-year sentence. It was about time her sins caught up to her. Even their sons-Lance, Lyle, and Logan-believed she got what she deserved, after the hell Edwina had put Carrie through.
It had taken years of prayer, of listening to sermons on redemption, and counseling with his minister, for him to move on, so that he no longer resented Edwina for the things she’d done, to him and his children. Unfortunately, his four kids hadn’t joined him on the forgiveness bandwagon, and he doubted they ever would.
Could this packet be from Edwina? He knew of no other soul in prison. And if it was from her, why would she contact him? The last stunt she’d pulled—blackmailing Carrie a few years ago--had been the last straw.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the packet to find six envelopes inside. They were individually addressed--one to each of his three sons and his daughter. Another was addressed to him, and the sixth letter was addressed to a stranger.
Jeremiah opened the envelope addressedto him.
Jeremiah,
I guess you thought you would never hear from me again. Please believe me when I say that I thought that, too. However, being locked up has a way of forcing you to face your regrets. And please believe me when I say I have plenty. No joke and no lie.
I am dying, Jeremiah. The doctor told me last week that I am terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. I have less than eight months to live. So, I decided that I could either spend the time I have left wallowing in self-pity, or I could do something right for a change. I’ve addressed each one of my kids’ letters. I hope they read them and accept my apology for the hurt and pain I caused them. For failing them as a mother.
More than anything, I would like to apologize to them personally. If they don’t want to come and see me, I’ll understand. I want to extend this to you as well, Jeremiah. You are a good man, and I will always regret what I put you through. It may be too late to ask your forgiveness, but I will do so anyway.
You’ll notice that one of the letters is addressed to a man named Silas Kingston. I know you don’t know him, but I was hoping you could find him. When Carrie was one, I met Silas at a soup kitchen where we would often go for food. Silas was a kindhearted businessman whose corporation covered the costs of the place. I played on his kindness. I intentionally got pregnant and then offered the baby to him for aprice when it was born. He paid what I asked and then sent his henchman to see me. The man told me that if I ever showed up in Silas’s or his son’s life again, I would live to regret it. I took the man at his word since several people had warned me that Silas’ family had ties to organized crime. I wasn’t sure if it was true, but I wasn’t going to take my chances and find out.
Silas came to the hospital and got the baby right after delivery. I was told I had a boy. I never got the chance to see him. Honestly, at the time, I didn’t care. Now, as I lie here, knowing my days are numbered, I do care because I owe Silas and my son an apology as well.
Because I don’t know my son’s name, I addressed the letter to Silas. I had tried sending a letter to the address I remembered for him, but it was returned. I know of no other way to reach him, and hope you will somehow find a way to get the letter to him. Silas did the right thing by taking our son away from me.
I will understand if you trash this entire package of letters, but in my heart, I know you won’t. You are a good man, Jeremiah. Thank you for passing these letters along to the kids. I know you’ll leave it up to them to decide if they want to come see me or not.
Just for the record, everything I’m telling you is the truth. You can have your minister call the prison’s chaplain to verify, or you can contact the physician here. I’ve given them both permissionto tell you, your minister, or anyone else who calls inquiring about my medical condition, anything they want to know. At this point in my life, I have no reason to lie.
I am so very sorry,
Edwina
Jeremiah refolded his letter and put it back in the envelope. Then he sat there for a few moments and looked up at the sky. It was a pretty blue. Too beautiful for him to be considering dealing with anything involving Edwina. But then, how could he not? She was his children’s mother. And she’d had another child less than two years after Carrie? That had been one well-kept secret. Silas Kingston’s representative must have put the fear of God in Edwina if she hadn’t tried to shake him down later for more money. Whatever fear tactic the man had used, Jeremiah was grateful it had worked.
His thoughts shifted back to his children--Logan, the plastic surgeon, Lyle, the heart specialist, Lance, the relationship guru and bestselling author, and Carrie, a social worker. He was proud of his kids. And Edwina was their mother, whether they wanted to claim her or not. Still, they should have the option of deciding what they were going to do, and he would respect whatever decision they made.
For Edwina, the timing of these letters couldn’t be better. His boys and their families would be arriving this weekend for Carrie’s twins’ christening on Sunday. Carrie and Connor had named their sons Jeremiah and Jeremy, after him and the beloved older brother that Jeremiah had lost yearsago. His brother had been the first to join the military, and as usual, Jeremiah had followed in his older brother’s footsteps. Jeremiah had returned from Vietnam. Jeremy had not.
After dinner on Sunday, he would request a meeting with his kids. But still, he felt he should give his oldest son a head’s-up. Logan lived in Tampa, Florida, and had only been married for five months.
Pulling his cell phone out of his jacket, he placed a call. Logan had been the one who had taken care of the house and his two younger brothers while Jeremiah worked to keep food on the table and clothes on their backs after Edwina ran off. He’d been the one who’d earned his younger brothers’ and his baby sister’s respect. The one who’d had to become a man before his time.
Logan answered on the first ring. “Hey, Pop, what’s up?”
CHAPTER 2
The Montgomerys
Jeremiah glanced around the room. The christening had gone beautifully, and the twins had slept through it all. After the church service, he and Thea had prepared a feast, and everyone was now well-fed. He’d told Thea about the letters he’d received from Edwina, and she agreed with his decision to inform the family about them in person, while they were all together. She was sitting close to his side with her hand in his, and he appreciated the support.
Everyone, except for Thea and Logan, was surprised when he mentioned they would be holding a family meeting. If Logan had mentioned the letters to his wife Claire, she wasn’t letting on. Logan had been the last of his kids to marry, which wasn’t surprising. He’d always felt responsible for the others, and it wasn’t until each of his younger siblings had settled down, married, and found happiness that he thought it was time to find some of that same happiness for himself. Like Lance, Lyle, and Carrie, Logan had chosen well. A bonus was that Claire was Lance’s wife Asia’s sister. It wasn’t often that two sisters found two brothers worthy of their love.
Jeremiah glanced around the living room. And speaking of his youngest son, Lance… Heand Asia were sitting on the other sofa with their eighteen-month-old son, Leland, in his father’s arms. Jeremiah wasn’t sure Lance would ever tie the knot again, after two failed marriages. On top of that, his bestselling novel,The Playa’s Handbook, which spoke to the benefits of being a player, made him apersona non grataamong many women’s groups around the country. Asia, also a bestselling author, had written a book about how women could deal with “no good” men like Lance. Somehow, through all the fireworks, the two had decided they loved each other, which proved that opposites could attract.
Lyle and his wife, Monique, were sitting at the dining room table with their daughter, Lyla, who had been born in June. His second son had always been the quiet and reserved one. He barely spoke unless he had something to say. He’d been the most studious of the three, after deciding at an early age that he wanted to be a heart specialist. Jeremiah had known for years that Lyle had a thing for Monique, who had been the sister of Arnie Olivier, Lyle’s roommate in medical school. He’d spent the summer with the Oliviers one year, and had gone on and on about Arnie’s beautiful little sister in his letters. Unfortunately, she had been a lot younger than Lyle. He hadn’t wanted to test the strength of his friendship with Arnie by telling him he had a thing for his young sister, so he’d let it go. But, as fate would have it, Lyle and Monique had run into each other a couple of years ago. Over the summer in Hilton Head, the two decided they were meant to be together. And from the looks of things, they’d made the right decision. Their baby Lyla had been born barely a year after their marriage.
Last, but definitely not least, he looked over at Carrie. His baby girl. She and her husband, Connor, were stretched outon the floor with their identical twins - who looked like their father - on a blanket. Jeremiah and Jeremy, who were born in late April, were to have been christened in June. However, that had been put off by the arrival of Lyla. The entire family had traveled to Texas to be there for the birth of another Montgomery. So, the christening had been rescheduled for August. Unfortunately, Jeremy had come down with a bad ear infection, and a month later, Jeremiah had teething-related issues and was drooling all over the place. Everyone had been holding their breath that today would go off without a hitch, and it had. Carrie and Connor had chosen Logan, Lyle, and Lance as godfathers, and Asia, Monique, and Claire as godmothers.
