Part 2: Before my husband passed away, he asked me to deliver a sealed letter to a woman I'd never met — after she read the first line, she looked at me and asked, "Did he tell you everything?"

Then Rebecca saw me.

Held out her hand.

“Come here.”

I shook my head.

“I don't dance.”

Emily shouted:

“Liar!”

Fine.

I joined them.

Three women looking ridiculous.

Catherine eventually joined too.

Four.

Nathan's family wisely pretended this was normal.

Maybe it was now.

Later, Emily gave a short speech.

She thanked Nathan.

His parents.

Catherine.

Rebecca.

Me.

Then said:

“I grew up believing family was a simple thing.”

“Mom.”

“Dad.”

“Me.”

She looked toward me.

“Then I learned that simple isn't the same as true.”

The room quieted.

“I learned my mother could be the woman who raised me even if someone else gave birth to me.”

Rebecca cried.

“I learned my biological mother could love me even though she wasn't able to raise me.”

“I learned a dead sister I never met could still deserve a place in our family's story.”

I covered my mouth.

“And I learned that my dad…”