London.’
‘A letter?’ She was about to ask who it was from when he reached into his top drawer and took it out, passing it to her.
‘I’m going to leave you to read it, and I’ll have my secretary bring in paper and a pen, in case you’d like to reply,’ he said. ‘I’ve made enquiries into the postal service, and although it might be slow, any replies will still reach their intended recipient.’
Valentina felt the weight of the envelope in her hand, her pulse racing as she turned it over and saw the return address. It was from Hope. But she didn’t move until she was alone, reaching over then for a letter opener from the other side of the desk.
The letter inside was only one page long, and she sat back in her chair to read it, forcing her eyes to read slowly instead of jumping ahead and skimming over the words.
Dearest Valentina,
It is with a heavy yet hopeful heart that I write to tell you that your beautiful daughter has been adopted. I kept her with me for much longer than I intended, four weeks in the end, but you told me that if the perfect family came along that I was to proceed with the adoption, which is what I did.
Your darling little girl stole the hearts of a lovely couple in their thirties, who’d struggled for many years to conceive. He is a doctor, and she was a music teacher who now teaches piano from home. I personally visited their home and met with them twice before agreeing to the adoption, and I can assure you that they will give her a stable home and a lovely life—all the things we spoke of when we discussed adoption.
I wanted to write to you immediately, although with the situation in Europe so volatile, I fear that by the time this reaches you the outlook might be even worse. My greatest fear was that you would arrive soon after the adoption was confirmed, hoping to be reunited with your daughter, and I certainly hope you receive this before travelling back here. I’m not even certain travel is a possibility, but I wanted to let you know all the same.
My intention is that the memory box you left behind will be given to your daughter soon after she turns twenty-one. I know how important it was to you, for your child to have a connection to you, and I made sure to tell her parents that you might want to contact them in the near future. They weren’t overjoyed, but of course they did understand.
I hope that you will forgive me the decision I made, and trust that I did what was best in the moment for your beautiful girl.
With all my love and best wishes,
Hope
Valentina pressed her fist to her mouth as she stifled a cry. She was too late. Even if the war hadn’t made travel impossible, she wouldn’t have made it in time. Her daughter was gone.
There was a soft knock at the door then, and she dabbed at her eyes with her knuckles before clearing her throat.
‘Come in.’
‘Mr Gonzalez asked me to give this to you.’
Valentina took the pen and paper offered to her, but as she stared down at the blank page, she couldn’t find the words she needed. What did she say to the woman who’d helped her so graciously through one of her darkest moments? To the woman who’d found a home for her daughter, rightly or wrongly, with her best interests at heart?
She was tempted to discard the paper and instruct her lawyer to take over communications, but Valentina owed Hope more than that. And so she reluctantly lifted the pen and leaned forward, the inky nib hovering over the paper.
Dear Hope,
My heart is broken.
She picked up the piece of paper and crushed it into a tight ball in her palm, before taking a deep breath and starting again.
Dearest Hope,
Thank you for your heartfelt letter. I intended on travelling back to London immediately, now that my family’s affairs have been taken care of, but the war has changed everything. My greatest wish was to be reunited with my daughter, but I trust in you and your decision. I know how hard it must have been for you, and I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done.
Please pass on my best wishes to her new parents, and tell them that I am here if they ever need anything, or if their circumstances change. If for any reason they could no longer care for her…you know the rest.
As promised, I intend on making a substantial donation to ensure the continued success of Hope’s House. I will never forget the care and kindness you showed me when I needed someone the most, and my lawyer will ensure the money is transferred to you as soon as possible.
With love and my best wishes,
Valentina Santiago
She folded the letter in half and placed it in the envelope, carefully copying out the address before leaving it on the desk and wiping her tears.
Valentina took a moment to gather herself, then she stood and turned to the door. Her lawyer stood there—the man who’d helped her when she had nothing, who’d fought for her because of the respect he’d had for her father.
