I laughed through sudden tears.
Only Lucas would begin a secret letter with a joke.
I know how much your father has influenced your life. I know you still hope he’ll become the man you needed him to be.
Maybe someday he will.
But I need you to remember something.
You are not responsible for rescuing people from the consequences of their own choices.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
There was more.
The house is yours because we built a life inside it.
The money is yours because I wanted you and our daughter to have choices.
And if I never get to meet our little girl, please tell her that I loved her before I knew the color of her eyes.
I couldn’t stop crying.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
One day, someone will tell you that family means forgiveness.
Maybe it does.
But forgiveness never means handing someone the keys to hurt you again.
