My chest constricts. For a split second, the street in front of me isn’t this street as my mind is thrown into a memory—The County fair— headlights — a woman in tears stepping off the curb without looking —My hand shoots out, grabbing her arm. I yank her backward off the street just as the bus screams past inches from where she’d been standing. Her breath catches against my shoulder, and my heart stutters.
The crosswalk chirps, and the memory snaps.
I’m on the sidewalk again, the bus already halfway down the block.
I pull out my phone, open Ashton’s text convo, and scroll to the photo she sent me of Maddison.
I stare at it. The same eyes.
My breath catches.
No…
That’s—
I lock the screen before I can finish the thought and slide it into my pocket.
I jog back home as I can’t escape the reality that has been flooding my mind all day.Nathandeserves more than an email or a confrontation.
He deserves care.
He deserves clarity.
He deserves truth without expectation.
So, I pull up the photo on my phone and send it to my printer. Then I walk to my kitchen drawer, pull out a pen, and grab a piece of parchment paper I usually use for cookie recipes. I press the tip down and begin to write.
Nathan,
I don’t know if you’ll even read this. I don’t know if you’ll believe me. And I don’t blame you if you don’t.
I’m sorry for the way I handled things. I shouldn’t have barged into your world like I did, and I can’t imagine the pain you carry. No one should have to.
But I think… Itrulybelieve… I may have found her.
Included is a photo I took. Something deep in my bones tells me this is your little girl. Her eyes… Nathan, they’rehereyes.
I don’t need anything from you. I’m not asking for us to go back to what we were or what I hoped we could have been.
I just want you to have this. To havehope.
You don’t have to respond. You don’t even have to forgive me. But I care about you.
And if this helps you find your way back to your daughter… then that’s all I need.
If this is her, here is the address where she is:
1715 Maxwell Rd
Carnation, Washington
-Ella
Five minutes later, I take the elevator up to 6B and slip the letter and photo under his door.
With a heavy heart, full of hope for a second chance for Nathan.
Chapter 43
