“What happened to her?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I was seventeen.”
She looked toward the window.
“My family wasn't wealthy. My father was strict. And when I became pregnant, he said I'd ruined my life.”
I took her hand.
Mrs. Wilson continued.
“They sent me to stay with relatives until the baby was born.”
Her voice broke.
“I held her once.”
I looked down at the photograph.
A newborn girl.
A white blanket.
Blue flowers.
Mrs. Wilson began sobbing.
“Then they told me she'd been adopted.”
My throat tightened.
“Did you ever see her again?”
She shook her head.
“For years, I didn't know where she was.”
I squeezed her fingers.
“I'm so sorry.”
She looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.
“Emma, there's something I should have told you a long time ago.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“What?”
She glanced toward the kitchen, where Mom was putting away the dishes.
